Activities of Notis MARIAS related to 2016/2059(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
EU strategy for liquefied natural gas and gas storage (A8-0278/2016 - András Gyürk) EL
EU strategy for liquefied natural gas and gas storage (short presentation) EL
Amendments (30)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the EU strategy for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas storage is one element of the Energy Union, which aims to gives concrete expression to the EU’s ambition to bring about a transition to a sustainable, and secure and competitive energy systemenergy system; believes, in this context, that further integration of energy policy should serve the national interests of the Member States and be for the benefit of EU citizens;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that energy is a basic human good and that the EU must combat energy poverty; calls on the EU, as part of its energy strategy, to give priority to eliminating energy poverty and set clear and measurable targets to this end;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is of the opinion that energy security can be achieved in the most efficient way through better coordination of national energy policies and consensus between the Member States on this matter; believes, in this context, that further integration of energy policy should be for the benefit of Member States and theirserve the national interests of the Member States and be for the benefit of EU citizens;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s strategy to support the use of LNG as an alternative fuel for transport where it replaces more polluting conventional fuels and does not take the place of renewable energy sources;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that trade plays a key role in energy security, and that strong energy partnerships, reinforced by the inclusion of energy chapters in the EU’s trade agreements, are essential tools; considers it to be of key importance that the EU’s trade agreements enhance the EU’s energy diversification and reduce its dependence on imported energy from too few suppliersMember States' energy security but also respect for the environment;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that energy is a basic human good and that an important goal of the Energy Union is to ensure equal and cheap access for all and to combat energy poverty; believes that through energy cooperation the EU can positively contribute to promoting and strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in partner countries; calls in this context for better lcalls in this context for better links between energy and climate policies; believes that the EU should not make use of energy cooperation as a means of interfering with the internal political, social and economic workinkgs between energy and climate policof partner countries;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the European Union and its Member States should first of all focus on their renewable resources and derive maximum benefit from their renewable production capacity; stresses that this should not prevent efforts being made to extract added value from other segments of the energy markets, such as LNGthe natural gas market, provided that this is done in a sustainable manner that is fully consistent with the EU’s environmental protection principles;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the use of LNG in heavy-duty vehicles and shipping can reduce emissions of various pollutants (SOx, NOx and particulate matter) and, in the case of shipping, can allow the sector to meet the requirements of environmental legislation by decreasing the sulphur and nitrogen content in marine fuels used in the Emission Control Areas; notes that LNG, and in particular CNG, ismust also become a viable solution for public transport which helps to reduce air and noise pollution;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the use of LNG may also lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from maritime and road transport, provided that methane slip is minimised; stresses that significant efforts must be made by the competent bodies to minimise the methane slip in the production, distribution, and combustion phases; calls therefore for adequate measures to minimise methane slip in the overall LNG chain through the use of the best available technologies and to ensure adequate R&D financing for that purpose;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the need to ensure the highest environmental standards in the planning, construction and use of liquefied natural gas (LNG); emphasises the potential offered by the transition to LNG for ending the dependence of maritime transport on coal; urges the European Union to provide financial support for European projects for this purpose;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas storage are of particular importance in order to avoid dependence on a singlefor energy supplierecurity; calls in this context for the promotion and development of new natural gas nodes and LNG storage stations in the central and south-eastern regions, the Baltic and the Mediterranean, particularly in the Mediterranean EU Member States;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Β
Recital Β
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that in order to promote the transition towards a low-carbon society, we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and above all on oil;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the need for impact assessments to be made to ascertain the added value of constructing new LNG transport and storage infrastructure, and the need to focus new investments on areas with poor interconnection, or to supply the most vulnerable Member States, in particular those in South-Eastern Europe;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that it is estimated that gas imports to the EU will rise until 2030, even if gas demand within the EU simultaneously stays stagnant or declines; stresses that moderating energy demand and promoting renewable and local energy sources are among the most effective tools for reducing dependence on external energy; recalls that the EU has significant LNG import excess capacity overall, which shows the lack of competitiveness of LNG in the free market, but that this capacity is not evenly distributed in geographical terms;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Member States to ensure implementation of Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, within the prescribed time limits, in particular as regards the establishment of LNG refuelling points, at least along the existing TEN-T Core Network, to ensure that LNG heavy-duty motor vehicles can circulate throughout the Union, and at maritime and inland ports to enable LNG inland waterway vessels or sea-going ships to circulate throughout the TEN-T Core Network; recalls that Member States should assess, in their national policy frameworks, in close cooperation with their regional authorities, the need to install refuelling points for LNG in ports outside the TEN-T Core Network; stresses that the development of infrastructure related to LNG must correspond to the real needs of citizens and not to geopolitical schemes;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that LNG and gas storage arstorage should be an important part of the Energy Union and should contribute towards ending any kind of energy isolation of the EU Member States and regions; highlights the need to support the most vulnerable countriMember States in order to diversify their sources and routes of supply;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for greater institutional convergence and synergy, and in particular for better integration of external energy security priorities in policies pursued by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and better coordination between the VP/HR and the responsible Commissioners; welcomecalls in this context the EU Energy Diplomacy Action Plan and inviteson the VP/HR to regularly inform Parliament about the implementation thereofof the EU Energy Diplomacy Action Plan.
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the current LNG terminals are not optimally distributed across the EU; stresses that sea ports play an important role in optimising the distribution of LNG across the Union by acting as LNG hubs; recalls that due to high LNG prices, the infrastructure for the development of the use of this form of gas requires financial support beyond free market mechanisms; calls for the establishment of a long-term and stable financial framework and continuous funding opportunities through the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Motorways of the Sea, Horizon 2020, the European Structural and Investment Funds and the European Investment Bank;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that LNG trading prices have been declining internationally and that price differentials between pipeline imports and LNG have also decreased; considers, therefore, that the key challenge is to address bottlenecks and energy security concerns in relation both to trade and to optimising storage capacity it important also to strengthen long-term contracts in the LNG sector so as to limit market crises, to reduce exposure to financial risks and to attract investment in infrastructure.
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the importance of finding cost efficient energy supply options to increase supply security in the Member States on the periphery of the EU, such as Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, as well as other islands that belong to Member States, which are not well connected to the internal energy market;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that, if, contrary to European interests, Nord Stream 2 were to be built, the importance of enabling access to LNG terminals and completing the North-South Gas Corridor in central and south-eastern Europe will significantly increase;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights the important role that liquid gas hubs play on thmature gas markets;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23