Activities of Klemen GROŠELJ related to 2022/2188(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the implementation report on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Amendments (21)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights, against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing energy crisis, the renewed importance of strengthening cooperation on energy between the EU and the UK so that they do not put each other at risk; stresses the importance of maximising mutual benefits to the largest extent possible, in an integrated and interconnected energy system based on common technical and market principles; notes that energy trading between the EU and the UK increased considerably throughout 2022;
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regards to Article 524 of the TCA
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for a balanced and coordinated approach towards achieving Green Deal objectives and energy independence for both the EU and UK; calls on both parties to strengthen technological cooperation, skills development and exchange of data in the energy sector; highlights the importance of R&D cooperation in the field of critical technologies, carbon capture technologies, hydrogen, renewable energy and nuclear energy;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding on offshore energy cooperation and calls for the further development of renewable energy in line with climate change objectives, and for the establishment of an effective framework for trading arrangements for electricity flows as well as for energy market stability and predictability, so as to prevent price and market manipulations;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned about the results of the joint cost-benefit analysis presented by the respective transmission system operators in May 2021, which highlighted a high risk of market manipulation and disruption; recalls that the proposal to revise the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT)1contains new provisions regarding market surveillance for generators from third countries and that these would apply to the UK, with a view to increase market stability and predictability; encourages both parties to step up their efforts to develop trading arrangements for electricity flows between the EU and the UK, as provided for in Article 312 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; _________________ 1 Proposal of 14 March 2023 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1227/2011 and (EU) 2019/942 to improve the Union’s protection against market manipulation in the wholesale energy market (COM(2023)0147).
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for coordinated EU-UK critical infrastructure development, especially in the energy sector, to enchance its robustness and lower the chances of infrastructure disruptions and energy supply failures;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that common rules for offshore renewable energy and forand nuclear energy, carbon capture technologies, gas, hydrogen and pipeline infrastructure are essential for facilitating commercial agreements in these areas with the UK;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes note of the ‘transitional arrangements’ in place for potential UK participants in Horizon Europe programmes and regrets that grant agreements cannot be signed, as they are conditional on UK association; calls on the Commission and the UK to swfitly reach a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial agreement on UK association to Horizon Europe;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the Windsor Agreement and calls for constructive relations between the UK Government and the Commission to form the basis for effective cooperation and participation in EU programmes, including potential association to Horizon Europe; under an agreed set of financial and intellectual rights rules;
Amendment 20 #
13. Stresses that the general principles of the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe should be subject to the conditions set out in the relevant instruments and should take into consideration the EU's strategic goals in its cooperation with the UK;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises that a fair balance must be struck between the contributions by and benefits to the UK of association to Horizon Europe and take into account the wider scope of benefits stemming from EU-UK cooperation; welcomes the Commission's forthcoming attitude in the renegotiation of UK contributions and expects the UK to adopt a like-minded, flexible approach;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls for strengthening cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, due to its implications for both the EU and UK on a wide range of aspects of mutual interest, especially in the digital and financial sectors, IT, defence, energy and R&D;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. IsUnderlines that Article 524 of the TCA provides that the cooperation is based on the Parties' and Member States' long-standing respect for democracy, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, including as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the European Convention on Human Rights, and on the importance of giving effect to the rights and freedoms in that Convention domestically; is therefore deeply concerned by the Illegal Migration Bill, which passed through the UK Parliament on 26 April 2023, and, if adopted, could have the potential to diverge from the European Convention on Human Rights, causing clear divergence between the two parties and could, according to the TCA, lead to the termination of law enforcement cooperation between the UK and the EU;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the swift setting up of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) and notes that twohree meetings have already taken place in 2022 and two2023, and one more haves been scheduled for late 2023; considers that the PPA provides a good framework for parliamentary cooperation and open exchanges between parliamentarians on topics of common interest;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines the specific situation of Northern Ireland thanks to its unique position, with access to both the EU and UK internal markets; suggests therefore the establishment of an EU one-stop shop in Belfast where people and business would get the assistance and expertise they need to navigate the legislation applicable to them and the necessary help to unlock the full potential of the new arrangements set out in the Windsor Framework;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes note of the Commission’s assessment that overall, the trade arrangements in goods and services established in the TCA are working well, although certain implementation difficulties have persisted such as the sponsorship scheme for the entry and temporary stay of natural persons for business purposes and the verification of origin for applying preferential tariff treatment; notes that as of August 2023, the UK Government has postponed sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls for a fifth time, with these now being introduced in January 2024; notes that the UK Government could reduce barriers to trade with the EU by committing to voluntary alignment across key sectors; maintains its call that the EU and the UK should come to an agreement on mutual recognition of conformity assessments and regulatory equivalence for SPS measures;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Agrees with the Commission that the horizontal and product-specific rules in the TCA are satisfactory and that product- specific rules should not be revisited beyond technical adaptations, as these rules strike a fair balance while contributing to the Union’s overarching objective of achieving strategic autonomy in essential sectors; calls, however, for reasonable solutions to be fstresses that any exception wounld with regard to the upcoming changes to the rules of origin for electric vehicles, given the difficulties encountered by EU manufacturers in sourcing parts, in particular batteries, from within the EUrender European efforts and investments pointless and would lead to a shift in investment away from Europe ; calls on the UK and the EU, as like-minded partners, to explore new avenues for cooperation on the supply of raw materials, the development of net- zero technologies and other global trade issues;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes the draft deal between the EU-UK on the UK’s re-entry into the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme; notes the importance of UK universities in leading global research; recalls that any agreement would be mutually beneficial to citizens and scientists on both sides; urges the UK Government to swiftly implement the draft deal;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Regrets that the TCA does not include provisions on cooperation in foreign policy and defence; recalls the EP's position that in the current geopolitical context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the signing of a structured framework for cooperation on foreign and security affairs between the European Union and the UK would be more effective than current ad hoc cooperation; highlights the need to intensify the dialogue with the UK on possible avenues for future cooperation and coordination on foreign, security and defence policy, in line with the provisions of the political declaration and including in the framework of the EU-NATO partnership, the United Nations, the European Political Community (EPC) and other international forums; underlines the importance of coordinating sanctions regimes;
Amendment 86 #
31. Calls for the stronger involvement of the UK in European security and defence projects; welcomes, in this context, the decision of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) members and the Council of 14 November 2022 to invite the UK to join the Military Mobility PESCO project, which would improve mutual rapid security and defence assistance; calls on the Member States to sign the administrative agreement on Military Mobility with the UK as soon as possible;