51 Amendments of Jakop G. DALUNDE related to 2017/2084(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ratified by the European Union on 4th October 2016,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the Paris Agreement substantially increased the level of global ambition on climate change mitigation, with signatories committing to holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre- industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Whereas, the Union needs to prepare for much deeper and faster cuts in emissions than previously foreseen, in order to shift to a highly energy efficient and 100 percent renewables-based energy system at the latest by 2050;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas research and innovation constitute a distinct dimension ofambitious climate and energy policies have been key drivers for innovation, and binding standards and targets have fostered the EU’´s Energy Union, with energy R&D&I a key driver of the EU’s industrial leadership,leadership in eco-innovation and turned European industries in some of the most energy- efficient in the world boosting global competitiveness, sustainable growth and job creation, as well as of the EU’s overall energy security, by reducing dependence on energy imports;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU is a global leader in high-value, low-emission energy innovation and emerging clean technologie, modernising the ways we produce, consume and use energy can mitigate the public health, environmental and climate impacts of current practices based on fossil fuels; whereas, this will require increased investment in R&D&I in smarter energy efficient and renewable-based technologies; whereas the objective of H2020 is to contribute to building a society and an economy based on knowledge and innovation by leveraging additional national public and private R&D funding and by helping to attain the target of 3% of GDP for R&D by2020; whereas the EU invested only 2.03% of GDP in 2015 with huge discrepancies among its member states; whereas global competition is growing and the EU's innovation gap with countries, such as Japan or Korea, is increasing and major economic players like China are starting to compete precisely in those higher added value segments where Europe does best; whereas the EU has to step up its current climate and energy policy ambitions, in order to send out the right investments signals and not to lose its lead market position in high value renewable technologies and energy-efficiency solutions and conceptual innovations;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas many policies still mask the true societal cost of fossil fuels and artificially lower their prices via significant subsidies; whereas in 2012 annual direct fossil-fuel subsidies stood at around €41.9 billion; whereas in 2014 EU 28 spent around € 4.2 bn in public funding for clean-energy research and innovation; whereas valuable resources are diverted away from energy efficiency and renewable based innovations and the EU can only make up for a fraction, such as through the €1.1 billion from the EU's Horizon 2020 program; whereas this makes life harder for innovative energy efficiency and renewable projects, as they face harsher market conditions;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas progress in energy efficiency and renewable energy based innovations and R&D are key to the EU's future competitiveness, including Europe's industry; whereas the EU will become "the world number one on renewables" only through the deployment of cost-effective innovations and intensified R&D efforts in this specific sector; Whereas the implementation of the “Energy Efficiency First” principle needs to be underpinned by a robust innovation policy at European level, notably related to system integration;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas a fully functioning internal energy market is essential for further stimulating R&D and maximising the market uptake of new renewable technologies across all EU regions by providing economies of scale and regulatory and investment certainty, thereby enabling the EU to reap the full potential of energy innovation and fostering efficiency, a sustainable technology-neutral use of indigenoususe of distributed renewable energy sources, and storage and transport solutions;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU’s energy policy and financing instruments should primarily focus on a gradual transition to high- efficiency, low-emission systems and avoid setting technology-specific benchmarks that distort market mechanismsbe fully geared towards achieving a highly energy efficient and fully renewables-based energy system; whereas due to market, technological or scientific uncertainty funding from the private sector is often insufficient or not available; whereas the EU needs to set strong and consistent signals and incentives, in order to provide investors´ certainty and boost private investment in energy efficient and renewables based innovation, R&D and deployment; whereas such signal would be sent by setting ambitious EU energy and climate targets for 2030 and 2050, underpinned by national binding energy efficiency and renewable targets and a strong Governance framework;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the importance of supporting, scaling up and rolling out the most promising innovations in Europe, in the framework of a bottom-up, user- centred and interdisciplinary approach, at the intersection of energy, transport and digital technologies; is therefore convinced that synergies between Trans European Transport, Telecommunications and Renewable Energy Networks should be stronger supported within the future MFF;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of greenhouse gas emissions of energy sources and technologies should be taken as reference when addressing concrete policies and incentives aimed at fostering low-emission soluenergy efficient and renewables based solutions at EU level including the sustainable sourcing of raw materials and metals; whereas focus should be put on those innovations that EU levelenable higher penetration of renewable energy technologies and greater energy savings, and that have direct relevance to citizens by allowing their participation in the energy transition and enhancing its affordability;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas energy-related research and innovation was recognised as a priority area under FP7 and Horizon 2020; whereas EU research and innovation funding can help to push the boundaries of science, technological development and knowledge as well as to deploy targeted financial instruments to lower the risk of private investments in untested but promising energy efficient and renewable based technologies or business models;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Communication setting the framework for accelerating the EU’s clean energy innovation; Stresses the key role of ambitious climate and clean energy policies as drivers of innovation in real economy; recalls that binding standards and targets have fostered EU leadership in eco-innovation and is concerned that without the stepping up of current climate and energy policy ambition, the EU is already losing its lead market position in new technologies and conceptual innovations; calls on the Commission to focus its research and innovation efforts on sustainable strategic future renewables and energy efficiency based technologies that have the potential to address climate change and environmental concerns, ensure sustainable security of supply and maintain the EU's competitive advantage in climate-friendly energy technologies;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises that the successful deployment of energy innovation is a multidimensional challenge that encompasses supply chainand demand side, value chain, human capital, regulation, innovation and industrial policy issues; stresses that this challenge requires the engagement of citizens – consumers and prosumers – as well as a wide ecosystem of stakeholders, including academia, research and technology organisations (RTOs), start- ups, energy and construction companies, mobility providers, service suppliers, equipment manufacturers, IT and telecoms companies, financial institutions, public authorities at all levels, renewable energy communities, NGOs, educators and opinion leaders;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that a cost-effective energy transition towards environmentally friendly, consumer-oriented and more digitalised, decentralised systems requires research and the deployment of innovation in all energy system sectors, including non- technology specific, systemic solutions and across sectors; recognises that this transition is fostering new organisational models, particularly in energy generation, transmission, distribution and, storage and electro-mobility, business and needs management, as well as service provision; underlines the role that large- scale pilot projects can play in deploying systemic energy innovation;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls the commitment to focus 85% of Horizon2020 funding in the energy field on renewable energy, end-use energy efficiency, storage and smart grids; urges for the need to increase the share to 100% in the future FP9 framework programme;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the need to share and scale up best practices and smart, sustainable and inclusive urban projects; calls for an integrated and coordinated approach to take account of the urban dimension of EU and national policies and legislation as well as the development of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in order to improve the health and quality of life of citizens in urban areas;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Points to the results of the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020 showing that the programme is currently below target with regards to climate and sustainability spending and deplores the proposed cuts to energy and climate spending under the 2018 budget, calls for this situation to be rectified before the end of the programme in line with legal commitments under the Horizon 2020 regulation; is also deeply worried by the continuous cuts to the CEF programme and redeployment to other instruments such as the EU defence programme; believes that the cuts in research and innovation spending in the area of energy as seen in the 2018 budget is contrary to the proclaimed aims of the energy union and detrimental to its successful implementation;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Stresses the need for greater coherence between the EU´s commitment under the Paris Agreements and its sectorial and funding policies; welcomes the Commission´s clear analysis on the discrepancy between the goals of the Paris Agreement and continuous policies and subsidies promoting fossil fuels; considers direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies a major obstacle to clean energy innovation and insists on removing and redirecting such resources to financing energy efficiency and renewable-based energy innovation and their uptake; calls for Member States to phase-out fossil fuels in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Expects the Commission to come forward in 2018with a carbon budget for the Union that is consistent with commitments under the Paris Agreement, including, as part of the Energy Union, the identification and support for the development of Renewables Energy Projects of Energy Union; Calls for integrating into the EU industrial strategy effective energy innovation financing instruments and measures helping to create more market transparency regarding carbon risk, in order to avoid investments in carbon stranded assets and to divest from carbon-based infrastructure;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Points out that, the innovation principle put forward in the communication on industrial strategy should be applied, together with the precautionary principle, strictly with the aim of enabling faster uptake of sustainable energy innovations that respond to the need of fighting climate change and protecting the environment and not used a de-regulatory tool rewarding business as usual fossil-based industrial processes;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the need for intensifying research for innovative renewable energy systems in transport, for example those using solar and wind energy for ships, linking renewable energy sources with electric rail networks, exploiting gravity energy in both vehicles and digitalised transport infrastructure;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that research and innovation in energy crucially depends on predictability and certainty, which require long-term policy vision, ambitious objectives, targets and standards as well as continuous monitoring and reporting, sustained targeted incentives and patient equity capital in order to attain the necessary critical mass for market deployment; welcomes in this respect the Commission´s proposal for the clean energy package, which has the potential for becoming a key driver for innovation provided it is endowed with clear, ambitious energy efficiency and renewable energy targets that are binding at national level; welcomes the focus on key technologies, as confirmed in the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET- Plan) and Commission communication; stresses, however, the need for greater prioritisation of cross- cutting, systemic innovation in energyand integration of the different solutions available or under development rather than in individual sectors and technologies separately from each other, as innovation is not only technology- driven; Calls on the use of European Technology and Innovation Platforms to identify topics for the Research Framework Programme’s Work Programmes;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the Commission and the Member States to put in place mechanismsuse the SET plan as place for coordinating EU and national research and energy innovation programmes, in order to foster synergies and avoid unintended duplication, to ensure the most effective use of existing resources and infrastructure in all Member States, and to maximise the market uptake of new technologies and innovations across all EU regions; believes that including relevant information in integrated national energy and climate plans could be conducive to that aim;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need for greater coherence between the relevant funds, including structural funds, dedicated to technology-neutralenergy efficiency and renewables based energy projects, and for the existing financing instruments at EU and Member State level to be made more comprehensible; calls on the Commission to provide mapping of different funding and financing instruments and considers that the possibility of pooling the various instruments should be assessed, yet with attention to complementarity;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the Commission´s commitment to continue to fund fundamental research through H2020 and the European Research Council; Stresses the need to further enhance funding of collaborative research under Horizon Societal Challenges in the field of energy, but also streamlining energy innovation in the other societal challenges; Notes the Commission’s proposal to strengthen market-creating innovations by creating a European Innovation Council in addition to the Start up and scale up initiative thereby contributing to generate breakthrough innovations that can capture and create new markets; believes that the creation of market-based financing instrument (such as loans and equity) should not be at the detriment of grants funding that enables non-for profit and public actors, such as academia, university, civil society, to participate in transnational European projects of high value;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to propose a focused, long-term, technology- ope and sustainable clean energy-industrial strategy that is based on a highly energy efficient and fully renewables based energy system by 2050 as an integral part of the EU strategy and action plan for a consistent and comprehensive energy dimension of the EU’s industrial policy; to this end stresses the need of deep greenhouse gas emission reductions by energy intensive industries and the further development of innovative process technologies that improve emission performance; calls therefore on the Commission to put both energy and resource efficiency at the forefront of research and innovation as well as how to better take advantage of zero marginal cost renewable electricity; considers vital the promotion of a system of open innovation where industry and companies, with their different disciplines and approaches work and develop together high quality and sustainable solutions; stresses that in order to promote innovation in particular in the energy-intensive industrial sector, Member States shall spend the revenue of their ETS auctioning on projects in the sector to implement energy efficiency improvements or a switch to sustainable renewables and account for this transparently;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls that the photovoltaic industry must be at the heart of the European industrial policy to meet the demands of a growing global market in a context where the bulk of the photovoltaic cells and modules are nowadays manufactured outside the European Union, mostly in China; Stresses the need for the EU to be fully part of a new investment cycle in order to maintain its leadership on R&D on photovoltaic manufacturing machinery, on some other segments like inverters, raw materials, building integrated photovoltaics, operations and maintenance and balance of systems; further emphasises the need to maintain its expertise on system integration such as small-scale PV solutions for developing countries;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Urges the Commission and the Member States to promote, prioritize and support investment in the sustainable sourcing of raw materials and drive innovation toward better product design, recycling and reuse of existing metals and materials in the context of the circular economy rather than the opening up of new areas such as the deep-sea for the production of raw materials to supply the renewable energy, transport and related sectors;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises links between digitalisation, IT technologies and energy research and innovation; in particular infields of improved data collection, interoperability, associated data security and privacy guarantees; to this end calls on the Commission to ensure coherence between symbiotic aspects of the Energy Union, the Digital Single Market and cybersecurity strategies; and the European Data Protection Framework;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point -a (new)
Paragraph 9 – point -a (new)
(-a) enable new common research and innovation policy planning, in order to ensure consistency, coherence and avoid frequent changes of priorities;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point c
Paragraph 9 – point c
(c) establish a compendium of best practices, policy and financing instruments in energy, including PPPs, public procurement and tax incentives, exchange and information mechanisms, communication tools and campaigns, as well as operational guidelines and technical assistance on mobilising clean energy innovation, deployment and prosumer involvement, so as to ensure that the EU can adequately support all stages of the innovation cycle, and ultimately provide a practical toolkit for the Member States, local authorities and stakeholders;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point f
Paragraph 9 – point f
(f) draw up concrete proposals with a view to establishing an effective one-stop- shop advisory structure for innovators on financing energy innovation via funds and instruments available at EU, Member State and EIB level as well as from other potential private sources; enhance technical assistance in aggregating information on private and public funding possibilities and guide applicants to the most appropriate funding mechanism; notably in the field of energy efficiency where aggregation of small projects into broader portfolios is indispensable;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that public procurement can be an innovation driver as well as fostering more sustainable growth, as also recognised by the Sustainable Development Goals; points out that the choice of sustainable products, service and public works is essential and can create lead or new markets for innovative products; welcomes the Commission´s initiative under the Start-up and Scale-up Initiative to introduced measures on EU procurement to amongst others encourage Member States to set ambitious innovation buying targets; further stresses the role that local and regional authorities can play in setting good examples as well as engaging in the exchange of good practice in fora, such as the Covenant of Mayors;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the Commission to strengthen the innovation capacity component of competitiveness proofing in impact assessments and apply the Research & Innovation Tool to all new energy policy proposals and the review of existing legislation, without undermining effectiveness of legislation;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the four strategic interconnected priorities proposed by the Commission for the allocation of future funding under H2020:a) Decarbonising the EU building stock by 2050: From nearly-zero energy buildings to energy- plus districts: b)Strengthening EU leadership on renewables c) Developing affordable and integrated energy storage solutions d) Electro-mobility and a more integrated urban transport system; considers these priorities as key drivers for innovation and essential pillars of the energy transition; welcomes in this respect the Commission´s initiative on launching a European Battery Alliance as officially announced in October 2017 that would support domestic production of batteries and allow the EU to compete with the US and Asia on this highly strategic technology; stresses yet the need for focusing on energy savings and energy efficiency also beyond the building sector, in particular as regards the production of fuels/energy as well as in- use, such as in industrial processes and the tertiary sector where still essential gains could be made; further emphasises the need for innovation to further look into aspects of system flexibilisation tackling overcapacities, and sector coupling (electricity, heating and cooling and transport sectors) as well as the advancement of the next generation of infrastructure, such as intelligent networks, smart grids or micro grids, in order to ensure system readiness for the uptake of increasing levels of electricity production from renewable energy sources and a secure operation of the electricity system;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Notes that due to scarcity of resources, lack of capacity storage, unresolved problems such as high cost prices, its energy penalty (up to 40 percent of the energy produced by a power station) and environmental risks, Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) is not an option should the EU want to develop rapidly a renewable energy and energy efficient economy in line with the EU climate objectives;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Encourages relevant Member States to contribute adequately to meeting the 3% EU's GDP target for R&D; notes that an overall increase of 3% would bring additionally more than100 billion euros per year for research and innovation in Europe; recalls that two thirds of R&D funding is expected to come from the private sector;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates Parliament’s call for an increased overall budget of EUR 120 billion for FP9 and urges the Commission to increase by 50 % the proportion of energy-related financing under FP9 from the corresponding H2020 level, so as to ensure sufficient funding to support effective implementation of the Energy Union; considers that the innovation related to the reduction of GHG emissions and the energy transition should have a key position in the next EU multi-annual framework and hence FP9 funding should be increased or at least kept steady following Brexit;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Reminds that first of a kind (FOAK)projects are highly risky and the supply of equity and debt is at much lower levels than the financing of proven low carbon technologies; to this end calls on the Commission to remove remaining regulatory obstacles and propose the establishment of a SET-FOAK Equity Fund;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges the role that the European Innovation Council (EIC) could play in helping early stage companies to find funding and proposed as a role to coordinate the various strands of a coherent investment strategy in clean energy innovation; requests more information about the EIC’s structure and consistency with existing instruments supporting innovation;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Welcome the Commission’s intention to make an increasing use of inducement prices, as they are good tools to foster bottom-up break-through innovations giving contestant most discretion to develop effective solutions;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recognises the role that the Paris Agreement could play inalls the Paris Agreement´s objectives and the urgency to fostering global efforts for accelerated clean energy innovation; calls on the Commission to explore means by which capacity-building measures under the Agreemen, in line also with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),to explore different means and channels by which to assist developing countries and emerging economies in their energy transition, such as through capacity-building measures under the Agreement, possible transfer of technologies, assisting in reducing the capital costs of local renewables and energy efficiency projects as well as other measures that can help strengthen local energy innovation ecosystems in developing countriesand overall help them to deliver on their commitments to implement the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission to exploit the full potential of the Mission Innovation initiative by seeking synergies with initiatives such as the Breakthrough Energy Coalition and with global equity and investment funds, and through a possible coordinated division of labour in energy innovation on a global scalAgrees that the heart of Mission Innovation is the commitment by signatory countries to double annual spending on clean energy R&D between 2015 to 2020;questions the relevance of Mission Innovation if countries can remain in it without honouring this pledge; calls on the US to stick to its pledge; considers a two-speed Mission Innovation a viable way to accommodate ambitious and less ambitious countries; calls for linking the SET FOAK Equity Fund with global equity and investment funds; welcomes in this respect the EU leading the Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge to create storable solar fuels and the Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings Innovation Challenge;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of enhancing the promotion of clean energy technology exports within the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTA), including through a dedicated support facility and focused assistance from EU delegations in third countries; develop a comprehensive export strategy for green technologies and to identify new markets for European know-how in renewables and energy efficiency, both in terms of individual technologies, but also in terms of system integration; recognizes opportunities in providing solutions for developing countries both in the urban environment fostering the development of smart cities as well as remote and rural areas, including small islands, where needs of electrification can be addressed by small-scale renewables coupled with batteries, for example; emphasises the importance of developing strategic partnerships in this respect, including through a dedicated support facility and focused assistance from EU delegations in third countries; Welcomes the newly established European Fund for Sustainable Development to put focus on investments that contribute to climate action, renewable energy and resource efficiency; notes the commitment taken to allocate at least 28 % of its financing to such investments and considers this to be an absolute minimum;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines the need, in the context of the Paris Agreement and the EU’s climate objectives, to prioritise funding for climate change research and climate data collection infrastructure – particularly as the United States is considering significant budgetary cuts to US environmental research institutions;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Believes that citizen should to be at the centre of the energy system and that a more decentralised bottom-up, user- centred energy system is a driver for innovation; consumers, local energy communities, cities and small-start-ups can participate and push future developments and innovations;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses the necessity to strengthen Europe’s knowledge base, reduce fragmentation by promoting excellence in science and education, with a view to creating research centres at the international forefront of academic excellence; emphasis the need for developing a strategy which ensures that Europe attracts foreign talent while simultaneously maintaining relations with top European talent abroad; recognises that a qualified work force gives Europe a great advantage and is a major motor for developing investment in R&D&I;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recognises the need for systemic education and engagement schemes designed to enable society to fully engage in the transformation of the energy system and enable Europeans of all ages to gradually progress from awareness and understanding to active involvement and taking a guiding role; calls on the Commission, the Member States, local authorities and the private sector to promote conscious consumer choices and energy-related citizens’ engagement through, inter alia, EU-supported awareness campaigns, comprehensive and accessible information on energy bills and price comparison tools, the promotion of cooperative sharing schemes, participatory budgets and crowd-funding for energy- related investments, tax and investment incentives, as well as by steering technological solutions and innovations;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Urges the Commission and the Member States to assist EU regions in taking coordinated steps to incentivise energy innovation at local and trans- regional level with the aim of developing coherent strategies; stresses that particular focus should be put on regions faced with the challenges of phasing-out lignite and coal generation and mining industries; underlines the need for assisting them in the development of inclusive, local just transition strategies and addressing societal, socio-economic and environmental impacts along with the reconversion of sites; inclusive stakeholder processes should develop how best to attract alternative new and innovative businesses and start-ups or industries with the aim of building a sustainable regional economy and boost peoples´ dignity, and to replace electricity generation capacity with renewables or energy efficiency solutions; calls for research and innovation policies to focus on how to revitalise concerned regions in terms of sustainable employment and growth perspectives, in particular where retiring lignite or coal-generating capacity is linked to mining activities;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Recognises the vital role of regions, cities and towns in promoting ownership of the energy transition and in pushing climate and energy-related innovation from below; notes that regions and urban areas are most suitable for testing and implementing integrated solutions in direct connection to citizens; underlines in this respect the importance of fora, such as the Covenant of Mayors with its aspiration to go global and to foster the exchange of best practice and possible pooling of resources and investments; stresses the need for reinforced financial support for programmes, such as the H2020Smart and Sustainable Cities or Smart City Initiative, the development of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs); considers ‘the 100%renewable energy city’ to be an inspiring mission for FP9; notes that rural areas also provide space for innovation overcoming challenges, such as remoteness or demographic change and the development of new services, which should be further exploited;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Believes that the Commission should conduct an initial assessment or review for the potential of blockchain distributed ledger technology in the energy field, drawing on any experience it has gained in the regulation of blockchain in fintech, to ensure that the opportunity of this potentially transformational technology is fully realised and that Europe is if necessary ready to be at the forefront of this new trend;