Activities of Alexandra GEESE related to 2020/0006(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund
Amendments (39)
Amendment 9 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The regulatory framework governing the Union’s cohesion policy for the period from 2021 to 2027, in the context of the next multi-annual financial framework, contributes to the fulfilment of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature increase to below 1.5°C and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating Union funding on green objectives as well as the European Pillar of Social Rights. This Regulation implements one of the priorities set out in the Communication on the European Green Deal (‘the European Green Deal’)11 and is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan12 providing dedicated financing under the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to address the economic and social costhallenges of the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptionsfully renewables-based, highly resource- and energy-efficient, circular climate-neutral economy as early as possible and by 2050 at the very latest, and to support and accompany Union regions and people with social, labour market and economic support. _________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 13 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fairinclusive and socially acceptable for all, reduce inequalities and leave no one behind. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and social implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences, as well as the different regional and local actors, should take into account its social, labour market and economic implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences and enhance the positive ones, such as the creation of new, decent and sustainable jobs or the improvement of air quality. The Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is not only to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories andut also to create and enhance the future positive effects by supporting the most affected territories as well as the people living there and in particular the workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of thfacilitating and catalysing the transition by creating new sustainable employment opportunities, by mitigating adverse lsocial economysequences and by mitigatfinancing the negative repercussdiversification, sustainability and modernisations on employmentf the local economy. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy as well as national and regional investments and private capital and should by no means replace such investments.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate, social and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should includprioritise those that support people, job creation and local economies and are sustainable in the medium and long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green DealEuropean Pillar of Social Rights and the European Green Deal, while protecting, preserving and enhancing the Union's natural capital, and improving health and wellbeing with regard to environment- related risks and impacts. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a resource-efficient climate-neutral and circular economy by 2050 at the very latest. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat, gas, oil and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked with strong conditionality to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment levelfocus on job creation and enhancing the resilience of the local economy to overcome potential job losses. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, innovation at the workplace, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activitiesbe given to the implementation of the energy efficiency first principle in all investment decisions, as well as to green sectors such as in renewable energy sources, or any sectors which support, promote and drive forward resource-efficiency and the circular economy, as well as those enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help. Such measures should enhance the creation of green sustainable and decent jobs, mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to,ocial consequences and fasten the transition towards a climate- neutral and circular economy by 2050 at the very latest. _________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The JTF should also be used to support investment in social, education, health and cultural projects, in particular in regions that depend on a carbon intensive economy and that are affected by the structural transition to a resource efficient and low-carbon economy. Inequality of opportunities present in the eligible regions affects in particular access to education, culture, community, health and social services. The development of a strong local community, as well as the integration of vulnerable groups in society without discrimination, can enhance economic opportunities and ensure a just transition for all. This would help to ensure that people living in regions subject to transition, including those active in the social economy which are crucial to local economic development and the social market economy, have access to high-quality public services and services of general interest, for the purpose of underpinning a socially just transition that leaves no-one behind.
Amendment 56 #
(11) To protect citizensgroups of people who are the most vulnerable tolikely to require support to achieve the climate transition, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers, with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities, as well as providing job-search assistance to jobseekerspaying particular attention to the most vulnerable people as defined in the [ESF+ Regulation],with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities, and achieving gender balance across sectors, as well as providing active labour market and skills policies targeted towards future oriented sectors and employment, assistance to those affected by the transition, and personalised job-search assistance to all categories of jobseekers and ensuring equal access to all groups of people without discrimination and their active inclusion into the labour market.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 b (new)
Recital 11 b (new)
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted bywhich require additional support to achieve the transition, the JTF should provide support to productive investment inwith job creation potential in green and sustainable SMEs. Productive investment should be understood as investment in fixed capital or immaterial assets of enterprises in view of producing goods and services thereby contributing to gross-capital formation and green, decent and sustainable employment. For enterprises other than SMEs, productive investments should only be supported if they are necessary for mitigating job losses resulting from the transition, by creating or protecting and if they support the overarching goal of the JTF which is to accelerate the transition to a climate- resilient, circular economy, by creating or supporting the adaptation of a significant number of jobs and they do not lead to or result from relocation. Investments in existing industrial facilities, including those covered by the Union Emissions Trading System, should be allowed ifprovided that they contribute to the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 and go substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 and ifprovided that they result in the protection of a significant number of decent and sustainable jobs. Any such investment should be justified accordingly in the relevant territorial just transition plan, should be sustainable and should be consistent with the energy efficiency first principle as well as excluding any investments in fossil fuel infrastructure from the scope of the JTF. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market and cohesion policy, support to undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU and, in particular, support to productive investments by enterprises other than SMEs should be limited to enterprises located in areas designated as assisted areas for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) TFEU.. _________________ 14Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possiblerequired to prepare a self- standing JTF programme or to programme JTF resources in one or more dedicated priorities within a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’), the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’) or the Cohesion Fund. In accordance with Article 21a of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], JTF resources should be reinforced with complementary funding from the ERDF and the ESF+. The respective amounts transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+ should be consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans.
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective and measurable implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy. In that regard, recipient regions in Member States should prepare, in cooperationtogether with the relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the local communities concerned, and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consiincluding job creation measures, investmently with their National Energy and Climate Plans in local social infrastructure, in line with at least the ambition of their National Energy and Climate Plans, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the European Pillar of Social Rights. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectorsctors and sectors concerned. The existing platform should be fully used to disseminate best practices during the planning phase.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) In order to ensure the long-term effectiveness and positive impacts of the transition and the JTF, data gathering by the Commission will be required to better forecast skills needed across sectors and industry to adapt to the change required by a new green economy and in particular to provide models for the employment effects of decarbonising scenarios. The data should be published in a gender- desegregated manner.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to territories facing serious socio- economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate- neutral economy of the Union by 2050. he groups of people and the territories which require additional support to make the transition to a fully renewables-based, highly resource- and energy-efficient, circular and climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050 and turn the challenges into opportunities, particularly in terms of the creation of new decent and sustainable green jobs and the up- and re- skilling of the workers, education and training to promote anew economic model which provides prosperity and well-being while reducing the negative effects on the climate and the environment.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall support the Investment for jobs and growth goal in all Member States, respecting and supporting the overarching objectives of the European Green Deal, and in particular the Union-wide climate-neutrality objective as defined in the European Climate Law, in order to tackle climate and environmental challenges while ensuring a just transition that leaves no- one behind. The JTF shall exclusively support the activities set out in paragraphs 2a to 2d of Article 4.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 7.25 billion in 2018 prices, which may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act.
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Additionally, the JTF may support, in areas designated as assisted areas in accordance with points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) of theTFEU and in compliance with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU, productive investments in enterprises other than SMEs, provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (h) of Article 7(2) and have undergone an additional check for compliance with the European Social Pillar of Rights. Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan, shall be sustainable and shall not increase or maintain dependency on fossil fuels.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
The JTF may also support investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (i) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan, shall be sustainable and shall not increase or maintain dependency on fossil fuels.
Amendment 157 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall support social investments, including those supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, ensuring the participation and accessibility of persons with disabilities, in particular through: (a) microfinance, social enterprise finance and social economy; (b) social infrastructure; (c) facilities for education and training, including early childhood education and care, educational facilities, student housing and digital equipment; (d) social housing; (e) health and long-term care, including clinics, hospitals, primary care, home services and community-based care; (f) social innovation, including innovative social solutions and schemes aiming to promote social impacts and outcomes in the areas related thereto; (g) cultural and heritage activities with a social goal; (h) infrastructure for local communities such as community and volunteer centres (i) innovative health solutions, including health services and new care models.
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 d (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall support technical assistance with regard to the investment strands referred to in paragraphs 2a, 2b and 2c.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 e (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. In budgeting and programming for actions, the JTF shall ensure support in equal shares for each of the three investment strands referred to in paragraphs 2a,2b and 2c.
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the decommissioning or, the construction of nuclear power stationsr the lifetime extension of or any other form of investment in nuclear power stations, as well as the management or storage of nuclear waste;
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage, transport or combustion of fossil fuels;
Amendment 171 #
(e) investment in broadband infrastructure in areas in which there are at least two broadband networks of equivalent category.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
For the activities set out in Article 4(2b) and (2c), the specific exclusions of the [ESF+] shall also apply.
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 b (new)
No Union funding shall be provided for activities relating to the scheduling of new fossil fuel extraction or peat production, including the re-opening of temporarily decommissioned extraction facilities in the NUTS 2 region in which the territory falls, during the duration of the programme.
Amendment 181 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall only approve a programme where the identification of the territories most negatively affected by the transition process, contained within the relevant territorial just transition plan, is duly justified and the relevant territorial just transition plan is consistent with the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned and where the planned activities comply with the planning requirement laid down in Article 4(2g).
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, in full compliance with the partnership principle together with the relevant authorities of the territories concerned as well as local actors, one or more territorial just transition plans covering one or more affected territories corresponding to level 3 of the common classification of territorial units for statistics (‘NUTS level 3 regions’) as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/201417 or parts thereof, in accordance with the template set out in Annex II. Those territories shall be those most negatively affected based on the economic, labour market and social impacts resulting from the transition, in particular with regard to expected job losses in fossil fuel production and use and the transformation needs of the production processes of industrial facilities with the highest greenhouse gas intensity. _________________ 17 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 194 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) a description of the transition process at national level towards a climate- neutral economy by2050, including a timelineclear date for the phase-out of all fossil fuels as well as a pre-2030 date for the phase-out of coal, and a precise timeline including 2030 milestones for key transition steps which are consistent with the latest version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (‘NECP’);
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) an assessment of the transition challenges faced by the most negatively affected territories, including the social, labour market, economic, and environmental impact of the transition to aand the co-benefits, in particular in terms of health and well- being, of the transition to a fully renewables-based, highly resource and energy-efficient, circular and climate- neutral economy, identifying the potential number of affected jobs and job losses as well as potential job creation, other social consequences, the development needs and objectives, to be reached by 2030 linked to the transformation orition to net zero emissions, the transition from fossil fuel use or to the closure of greenhouse gas-intensive activities in those territories;
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) a description of the expected contribution of the JTF support to addressing the social, labour market, economic and environmental impacts of the transition to achallenges and opportunities of the transition to a fully renewables-based, highly resource- and energy-efficient, circular and climate- neutral economy with a detailed list of actions planned;
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) an assessment of its consistency with other national, regional or territorial strategies and plans as well as the related Union strategies (the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights) as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as a detailed gender impact assessment of the actions planned.;
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point g
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point g
(g) a description of the type of operations envisaged and their expected contribution to alleviate the impact of the transitionn assessment of the transition opportunities for the territories concerned and the people living there, with a description of the type of operations envisaged, including the labour market and skills policies required to play an active role in fostering and supporting employment and job creation, and their expected contribution to turn the challenges of the transition into an opportunity for the region and the people living there;
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j
(j) synergies and complementarities with other Union programmes and pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism to address identified development needs in the territory of the plan.
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Territorial just transition plans shall exclude any public investment in fossil fuel infrastructure and shall offer an opportunity to further strengthen local economies and short economic routes.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the allocations resulting from the application of point (a) are adjusted to ensure that no Member State receives an amount exceeding EUR 2 billmore than 27% of the total allocation. The amounts exceeding EUR 2 billionthe 27% threshold per Member State are redistributed proportionally to the allocations of all other Member States. The Member States shares are recalculated accordingly;