2 Amendments of Jutta PAULUS related to 2021/0218(COD)
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22 b (new)
Recital 22 b (new)
(22b) Emission reduction and climate neutrality objectives should not come at the expense of biodiversity. According to the European Environmental Agency report on the “State of the Water” the EU’s rivers are in bad state with only 44% being in a good or high ecological state. In addition to chemical pollution, “energy-related pressures and hydropower installations” are the biggest threat to these important ecosystems. Moreover, European rivers are thought to be the most fragmented freshwater ecosystems in the world. Small hydropower plants in particular can jeopardise the goal of restoring 25.000 km free flowing rivers laid down in the Biodiversity Strategy. Hydropower’s effect on biodiversity has been considerable: since 1970, migratory freshwater fish species have declined by 93 percent. All new hydropower plants should be excluded from the possibility of getting support or counting towards the targets. Furthermore, in order to receive support, existing plants should be able to fulfil a number of requirements: they should, inter alia, be greater than 10 MW and meet the minimum ecological requirements laid down in EU legislation;
Amendment 827 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 b (new)Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19 b (new)Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 29 b (new)
(19b) The following Article is inserted: 'Article 29b Sustainability criteria for hydropower installations' Energy from hydropower shall be taken into account for the purposes referred to in the points (a), (b) and (c) of this subparagraph only if they fulfil the sustainability criteria laid down in paragraphs 2 and 3: (a) contributing towards the renewable energy shares of Member States and the targets referred to in Article 3(1), 15a(1), 22a(10, 23(1), 24(4) and 25(1) of this Directive; (b) measuring compliance with renewable energy obligations, including the obligation laid down in Article 25;(c) eligibility for financial support for the generation of hydropower. 2. New hydropower installations entering into operation from 1 January 2023 shall not be taken into account for the purposes of (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1. 3. Hydropower installations in operation before 1 January 2023 shall only be taken into account for the purpose referred to in point (c) of paragraph 1 if they: (a) have an installed capacity of 10 MW or greater; (b) meet the minimum ecological requirements, including provision of impact assessments, as required by relevant EU legislation, including Article 4 and 5 and related annex V of Directive 2000/60/EC as well as technical Screening criteria for Hydropower of the Taxonomy, activity 4.5 and requirements laid down in national and EU legislation on protected areas and/or migratory corridors; and (c) are not built in areas recognised as protected under local, national, EU or international legislation; Any financial support received shall be without prejudice to the contribution of the operator to costs associated with the water use, inline with the costs recovery and polluter-pays principles outlined in Directive2000/60/EC.;'