Activities of Saskia BRICMONT related to 2023/0081(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act)
Amendments (20)
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 70
Recital 70
(70) The Union represents only 9% of global emissions, and the success of its own transition cannot occur in isolation. Yet, the external dimension of the EGD has focused exclusively on defending the EU’s transition against external pressures. As part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan the Commission announced its intention to conclude Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships covering net-zero technologies, to adopt net-zero technologies globally and to support the role of EU industrial capabilities in paving the way for the global clean energy transition while supporting nascent industries in the field of clean energy technologies in third countries with clear comparative advantages. The Commission and Member States mayshall coordinate within the Platform the Partnerships, discussing existing relevant partnerships and processes, such as green partnerships, energy dialogues and other forms of existing bilateral contractual arrangements, as well as potential synergies with relevant Member States’ bilateral agreements with third countries.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 70 a (new)
Recital 70 a (new)
(70a) A high-level assessment of vulnerabilities of energy supply chains (Trinomics, Artelys, Study on the resilience of critical supply chains for energy security and clean energy transition during and after the COVID-19 crisis, 2021) found that wind energy, solar PV, storage and use technologies, gas infrastructure, batteries show important vulnerabilities at various stages. Besides the risk of cyberattacks, the lack of certified suppliers worsened by the use of different standards and quality management systems in various countries and regions and technical barriers to trade, the raw and processed material stage of the supply chains is the most vulnerable stage for many supply chains. Although hydropower and pumped storage, biomass gasifiers, gas turbines and heat pumps present no such significant vulnerabilities, they remain nevertheless considered highly strategic. Therefore, energy efficiency, circular economy and energy sobriety remain top priorities when it comes to reducing our strategic dependencies and to buttress our open strategic autonomy. Furthermore, a strategy based on onshoring industries may alienate third countries and pave the way for trade retaliation, a race to subsidies or resentment while the EU needs allies in various international fora.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 71
Recital 71
(71) The Union should aim to diversify international trade and investments in net- zero technologies and to promote globally high social and environmental standards should be done in close cooperation and partnership with like-minded countries. Similarly, stronger research and innovation efforts to develop and deploy net-zero technologies should be pursued in close cooperation with partner countries in an open but assertive approach, in full compliance with the spirit of mutually beneficial partnerships. Trust and proactive engagement are essential for the strategy to be successful. The EU can earn these by building an attractive proposition that supports its partners’ clean transitions. It starts with a proper assessment of the impact of the NZIA on international partners and the identification of potential adverse impacts. The EU can put forward and discuss with third countries areas of joint interest to foster research and the uptake of clean technologies by lifting obstacles, coordinating on standards, designing accompanying measures when needed. The new partnerships are designed in the spirit of the Policy Coherence for Development. By explicitly and proactively helping third countries to take advantage of such a partnership taking into account their needs and concerns, the EU shows that the NZIA is not protectionist at a time when some autonomous measures are criticized. Another advantage is that tightened ties and a shared vision between the partners will accelerate the shape of global rules for faster ecological and just transitions. In that sense, supporting others’ interests is part of a wider geopolitical ambition of the EU.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the framework of measures for innovating and scaling up the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies in the Union to support the Union’s 2030 target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % relative to 1990 levels and the Union’s 2050 climate neutrality target, as defined by Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, and to ensure the Union’s access to a secure and sustainable supply of net-zero technologies needed to safeguard the resilience of the Union’s energy systemcorresponding Union’s supply chains and to contribute to the creation of quality jobs and to the availability of affordable energy.
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
a) that by 2030, manufacturing capacity in the Union of the strategic net- zero technologies listed in the Annex approaches or reaches a benchmark of at least 40% of the Union’s annual deployment needs for the corresponding technologies necessary to achieve the Union’s 2030 climate and energy targets, 50% and 60% of the corresponding Union’s annual deployment needs based on the technological deployment planned across the Union according to the national energy and climate plans prepared and submitted by the Member States pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, respectively by 2030, 2040 and 2050;
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
aa) the strategic diversification of the Union's imports of net-zero technologies from third countries, none of which provide more than 65% of the Union’s annual consumption, and the establishment of a plurilateral alliance to foster the production and deployment of net-zero technologies by means of partnerships;
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
ab) the consistency with the Union’s climate and environmental targets and objectives, including: i) the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852: ii) the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle established under Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; iii) early and effective public participation in accordance with Regulation (EC) 137/2006; iv) complementary measures such as demand-side management, increased material efficiency and circularity, substitution of materials and of critical raw materials;
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
This Regulation applies to net-zero technologies, except for Articles 26 and 27 of this Regulation, which apply to innovative net-zero technologies. Raw materials processed materials or components falling under the scope of Regulation (EU) …/… [add footnote with publication references of the Critical Raw Materials Regulation] shall be excluded from the scope of this Regulation. This Regulation shall not apply to companies not complying with the obligations of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 from the date of its gradual entry into force. The abovementioned obligations refer in particular to the adoption of a due diligence policy, the implementation of a transition plan, the adoption of appropriate measures to prevent or mitigate potential adverse human rights impacts and adverse environmental impact.
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point 7
(7) facilitate closer coordination and the exchange of best practices between Member States to enhance the availability of skills in the net-zero technologies, including by contributing to Union and Member States policies to attract new talents from third countries in close cooperation with their competent authorities so as to avoid a brain drain detrimental to their own development.
Amendment 284 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. The Commission and Member States mayshall coordinate within the Platform on the Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships and also with relevant third countries to help promote the adoption of net-zero technologies globally and to support the role of Union industrial capabilities in paving the way for the global clean energy transition, in line with the overall objectives of this Regulation stemming from Article 1 of this Regulation. The Platform may periodically discuss:
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) how to improve cooperation along the net-zero value chain between the Union and third countries, including when it comes to the availability and deployment of skills in net-zero technologies; the latter will commit to ratify and effectively implement fundamental ILO conventions and to promote corporate social responsibility in accordance with international standards, such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct in exchange for support brought by the EU in terms of technology and knowledge transfer, technical and financial assistance in view of reducing the strategic dependency of the EU and of the deployment of a domestic, resilient and sustainable supply chains;
Amendment 291 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) how to address non-tariff barriers to trade, such as through mutual recognition of conformity assessment or commitments to avoid export restrictions of net-zero technologies;
Amendment 292 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
(ba) concrete provisions to foster trade in environmental goods and services in their bilateral relations building on the respective comparative advantages and in view of reaching a comprehensive international agreement on this matter;
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c – point i
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c – point i
i) the potential contribution to securitythe resilience of EU supply chains, taking into account their manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies;
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c – point ii
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c – point ii
ii) whether there are existing cooperation agreements between a third country and the Union., especially when they contain specific provisions on energy and raw materials;
Amendment 297 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c – point ii a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c – point ii a (new)
iia) the needs and objectives of the third countries as reflected in their relevant national sustainable development plans;
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 5
Article 28 – paragraph 5
5. Member States shall support the Commission in the implementation of the cooperation measures set out in the Net- Zero Industrial Partnership. Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships will have the objective of accelerating the deployment and manufacturing of net-zero technologies, including by facilitating trade among participants, including by favouring necessary sustainable investments within the Union and in third countries, enhancing resilience and sustainability of the supportive value chains, and guaranteeing a level playing fieldfacilitating the uptake and exchange of relevant knowhow, skills and technologies, cooperating on research and innovation efforts to develop net-zero technologies, enhancing resilience and sustainability of the supportive value chains, and guaranteeing a level playing field. Member States and the Commission shall also seek positive synergies between such Partnerships and existing initiatives like Global Gateway, the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, and the Just Energy Transition Partnerships.
Amendment 321 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 31 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the achievements of the Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships when it comes to the diversification of the EU’s annual consumption on the one hand and deployment of domestic, resilient and sustainable net-zero technologies supply chains in third countries on the other hand.
Amendment 326 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 31 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The Commission will present to the Council and the Parliament an yearly report of the achievements of the Net- Zero Industrial Partnerships when it comes to the diversification of the EU’s annual consumption on the one hand and to the deployment of domestic, resilient and sustainable net-zero technologies supply chains in third countries, including the contribution of EU- outbound FDI and of the trade agreements and other relevant EU instruments on the other hand.
Amendment 328 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 2
Article 35 – paragraph 2
2. The evaluation shall assess whether the objectives of this Regulation as established in Article 1 have been achieved and its impact on business users, especially SMEs, and end users, and the European Green Deal objectives and on the external dimension, as reflected in the geographical diversification of the EU’s import and the deployment of net-zero technology supply chains in third countries.