11 Amendments of Joanna KOPCIŃSKA related to 2020/0100(COD)
Amendment 4 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal on 11 December 20199 , drawing its roadmap towards a new growth policy for Europe and setting ambitious objectives to counter climate change and for environmental protection. In line with the objective to achieve Union climate neutrality in the Union by 2050 in an effective and fair manner, and in the spirit of European solidarity, the European Green Deal announced a Just Transition Mechanism to provide means for facing the climate challenges of the transition while leaving no one behind. The most vulnerable regions and people are the most exposed to the harmful effects of climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, managing the transition requires significant structural changes. _________________ 9 COM(2019) 640 final.
Amendment 6 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1 a) Different communities and citizens, depending on their social, geographic and historic circumstances, will be affected in different ways. Not all Member States, regions and cities start the transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond. At the same time, it is important to recognize that not all regions and communities will benefit equally from a transition to a climate neutral economy and its socio-economic footprint, including welfare and jobs, will vary owing to a broad range of factors. The increase in employment opportunities in the transition forecast is unevenly distributed across different regions whereas job creation in new sectors is not necessarily neatly aligned, temporally or geographically, with job losses.
Amendment 8 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal Investment Plan10 on 14 January 2020, establishing the Just Transition Mechanism which focuses on the regions and sectors that are most affected by the transition given their dependence on fossil fuels, including coal, particular coal, but also peat and oil shale or greenhouse gas-intensive industrial processes but have less capacity to finance the necessary investments required by Union climate policies. The Just Transition Mechanism consists of three pillars: a Just Transition Fund implemented under shared management, a dedicated just transition scheme under InvestEU, and a public sector loan facility to mobilise additional investments to the regions concerned. _________________ 10 COM(2020) 21 final.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challenges described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by competent authorities and approved by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wider range of investments as compared to the first pillar, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a Union climate neutral economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, green mobility, smart waste management, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, land restoration and decontamination, as well as up- and re-skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand disasters. Investment in natural gas as a bridging technology towards renewable energy sources (RES) and an efficient and affordable way of fuel switching from higher emissive sources should be taken into account. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities may be used.
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding.
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16 a) Given the relatively low grant component level, a number of projects could have an insufficient funding stream in order to be supported only by the Facility. This could lead to a lack of expected absorption in less developed regions where a lower-income public sector could experience difficulties in co- financing. Therefore, eligible projects should combine support under other Union programmes.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Facility is to address serious socio- economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union for the benefit of the Union territories identified in the territorial just transition plans prepared by the Member States in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation].
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic or environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a Union climate-neutral economy and benefit territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The amount of the grant shall not exceed 15% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner under this Facility. For projects located in territories in NUTS level 2 regions with a GDP per capita not exceeding 75% of the average GDP of the EU-27 as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation [new CPR], the amount of the grant shall not exceed 205% of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner. For projects located in territories in NUTS level 2 regions with a GDP per capita of between 75 % and 100 % of the average GDP of the EU-27 as referred to in Article [102(2)] of [Regulation (EU) 2020/XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument ("Common Provisions Regulation")], which in the 2014-2020 programming period were classified as less developed regions, the amount of the grant shall not exceed 25 % of the amount of the loan provided by the finance partner.