Activities of José Inácio FARIA related to 2016/2059(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the EU strategy for liquefied natural gas and gas storage
Amendments (13)
Amendment 10 #
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; draws attention to the potential of power-to-gas technology to store renewable energies and to make them usable as carbon- neutral gas for transport, heating and power generation; stresses that this should not prevent efforts being made to extract added value from other segments of the energy markets, such as LNG, provided that this is done in a sustainable manner that is fully consistent with the EU’s environmental protection principles;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the European Union and its Member States should first of all focus on theirenergy efficiency, on renewable energy resources and energy storage and derive maximum benefit from their renewable production capacity by accelerating investments in these sectors; stresses that this should not prevent efforts being made to extract added value from other segments of the energy markets, such as LNG, provided that this is done in a sustainable manner that is fully consistent with the EU’s environmental protection principles and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that LNG is an important transitional source of energy in the short to medium term, and that all efforts should be made to ensure that gas production is achieved in a sustainable manner and avoids methane leaks; stresses the need to enforce strict environmental standards to limit greenhouse gas emissions; calls, in this regard, for studies and suitable audit controls along the exploration, distribution and utilisation chain to enable a solid scientific knowledge basis; Considers that investments in innovation and technological development can play an important role in mitigating carbon emissions along the entire LNG life-cycle from natural gas exploration to final use;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the EU’s domestic production will continue to decline in the coming decades, and further diversification of the EU’s natural gas supply therefore remains a key objective, while nevertheless underlining its role as a short and medium- term solution, bearing in mind the European commitment to the objective of decarbonisation set out in the Roadmap for moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050; Stresses that new gas infrastructure investment decisions should not lead to fossil-fuel dependence lock-in effects and stranded assets;
Amendment 42 #
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; calls on the Commission to design a financial instrument for supporting the construction of LNG refuelling points inside and outside the TEN-T Core Network;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the need to prioritise Projects of Common Interest that complete missing infrastructure in order to end energy isolation and single supplier dependency; highlights priority geographic areas such as the Baltic region, the Iberian Peninsula and South Eastern Europe, among other Island regions; highlights that EU funding instruments such as EFSI, CEF, ERDF and EIB funding should prioritise such Projects of Common Interest;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Points out that where existing LNG reception and storage capacity is underused, cross-border interconnector investments that enable its optimal use should be prioritised, and regulatory and fiscal obstacles should be removed before supporting investments in new capacity in neighbouring Member States;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out the potential of LNG as a more sustainable fuel as compared to current mainstream fuels such as diesel in heavy weight road transport and heavy fuels in maritime transport; supports in this regard the objectives of Directive 2014/94/EU and the establishment of a harmonised regulatory and standardisation framework that encourages the use of LNG in shipping, and heavy weight road transport, provided that this fuel proves clear environmental advantages; stresses the need to avoid technological lock-in;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Believes that the EU ETS and the innovation fund established therein could provide an additional funding support mechanism to promote green shipping technologies and ports infrastructure, such as LNG;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Emphasises that shale gas exploration entails many environmental and public health risks, mostly so in a densely populated Europe; recognises however, that shale gas exploration decisions is a matter of subsidiarity that falls within Member States’ competence; stresses in this regard the need for a harmonised and binding European legal framework that ensures the strictest health and environmental protection standards in fracking operations;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Believes that energy negotiations in the scope of TTIP can provide an opportunity for gas supply diversification and competitiveness, while contributing to decrease the most environmental- damaging coal generation in the EU; stresses that as a consequence, environmental standards for gas exploration should not be lower than those in the EU; believes that the trade agreement with the US is an opportunity for European renewable energy and energy efficiency companies to promote their technologies abroad;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the fact that important LNG projects (e.g. North-South corridor) are being defined as projects of common interest; calls on the Commission to fully include Balkan countries when planning the further reconstruction of gas pipeline and TEN-E network to ensure a key role of the EU energy sector in the region;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to present cost-effective solutions for the distribution and storage of LNG in the Union’s outermost regions and for adequate financing; stresses the need to look at all existing solutions for the storage and distribution of LNG, in particular in island regions, taking into consideration the potential evolution in demand for that fuel; calls on the Commission to encourage a process of identifying the storages of regional importance; in order to provide security, affordability and sustainability of these storages, the Commission is called upon to ensure the necessary financial help to member states to develop the necessary infrastructure and improve their existing capacity in a timely manner;