Activities of Alexandr VONDRA related to 2020/0108(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the InvestEU Programme
Amendments (17)
Amendment 10 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In the last years, the Union has adopted ambitious strategies to complete the Single Market and to stimulate sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs, such as 'Europe 2020 - A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth' of 3 March 2010, 'Action Plan on Building a Capital Markets Union' of 30 September 2015, 'A new European Agenda for Culture' of 22 May 2018, 'Clean Energy for all Europeans' of 30 November 2016, 'Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy' of 2 December 2015, 'A European Strategy for Low- Emission Mobility' of 20 July 2016, ‘European Defence Action Plan’ of 30 November 2016, 'Launching the European Defence Fund' of 7 June 2017, 'Space Strategy for Europe' of 26 October 2016, the Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights of 13 December 2017, the ‘European Green Deal’ of 11 December 2019, the ‘European Green Deal‘Sustainable Europe Investment Plan’ of 14 January 2020, the ‘Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions’ of 14 January 2020, the ‘Strategy for shaping Europe’s digital future’, the ‘Data Strategy’ and the ‘Artificial Intelligence Communication’ of 19 February 2020, ‘A New Industrial Strategy for Europe’ of 10 March 2020 and ‘SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe’ of 10 March 2020. The InvestEU Fund should exploit and reinforce synergies, where appropriate and between those mutually reinforcing strategies, through providing support to investment and access to financing.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Union endorsed the objectives set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the "2030 Agenda"), its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change24 ("Paris Agreement on Climate Change") as well as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. To achieve those objectives, as well as those set out in the environmental policies of the Union, action pursuing sustainable development is toshould be stepped up significantly. Therefore, the principles of sustainable development should feature prominently in the design of the InvestEU Fund. _________________ 24 OJ L 282, 19.10.2016, p. 4.
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change iIn line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the SDGs, the InvestEU Programme will contribute to mainstream climate actions and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the Union budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Actions under the InvestEU Programme are expected to contribute 30 % of the overall financial envelope of the InvestEU Programme to climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the InvestEU Programme's preparation and iNotes with caution however, the inclusion of linkages with climate-related objectives, which can often be overambitious, impracticable and impede the ability of Member States to support empleoymentation and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review proces and a strengthened national industrial bases.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10 a) Climate change is a global challenge that requires international cooperation and similar efforts from third countries, especially G20 parties. In order for the Union to successfully play its role as a global leader in the transition towards climate neutrality, a realistic approach which actually fosters sustainable, competitive, and inclusive growth and prosperity is essential.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 b (new)
Recital 10 b (new)
(10 b) Nuclear energy plays an important role in meeting the objective of climate neutrality at Union level by 2050, as the second largest source of low-carbon electricity production globally. Without investment in nuclear technology, the low carbon transition will become significantly more difficult and onerously expensive to achieve.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The contribution of the InvestEU Fund to the achievement of the climate target will be tracked through a Union climate tracking system to be developed by the Commission in cooperation with potential implementing partners, appropriately using the criteria established by [Regulation on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment25 ] for determining whether an economic activity is environmentally sustainable. These criteria should not be to the detriment of nuclear energy and important low-carbon bridging technologies such as natural gas and carbon capture and storage. The InvestEU Programme should also contribute to the implementation of other dimensions of the SDGs. _________________ 25 COM(2018)353.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11 a) The digital transformation, technological neutrality and innovation, and research and development are the principal drivers for achieving climate- neutrality.
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) In the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, market allocation of resources is not fully efficient and perceived risk impairs private investment flow significantly. Under such circumstances, the key feature of the InvestEU Fund of de-risking economically viable projects to crowd in private finance is particularly valuable and should be reinforced, inter alia in order to counteract the risk of an asymmetric recovery. The InvestEU Programme should be able to provide crucial support to companies in the recovery phase and at the same time ensure a strong focus of investors on the Union’s medium- and long-term policy priorities such as the European Green Deal, the European Green Deal Investment Plan, the Strategy on shaping Europe’s digital future and the Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions. It should significantly increase the risk-taking capacity of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group andGiven their experience and capabilities at national and regional level, national promotional banks and institutions cand other implementing partners in support of economic recovery be instrumental in the maximisation of the impact of public funds and should be selected as implementing partners under InvestEU to help achieve the Union's objectives.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24 a (new)
Recital 24 a (new)
(24 a) Stresses that InvestEU should be consistent and fully aligned with the Union’s commitments and priorities, but notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered public and private finances, which will require the Commission to comprehensively re- examine its political priorities, in order to minimise administrative and regulatory burdens and enable all necessary measures to be taken in support of businesses and industry at European and national level.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) a sustainable infrastructure policy window which comprises sustainable investment in the areas of transport, including multimodal transport, road safety, including in accordance with the Union objective of eliminating fatal road accidents and serious injuries by 2050, the renewal and maintenance of rail and road infrastructure, energy, in particular renewable energy, energy efficiency in accordance with the 2030 energy framework, buildings renovation projects focused on energy savings and the integration of buildings into a connected energy, storage, digital and transport systems, improving interconnection levels, digital connectivity and access, including in rural areas, supply and processing of raw materials, space, oceans, water, including inland waterways, waste management in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the circular economy, nature and other environment infrastructure, cultural heritage, tourism, equipment, mobile assets and the deployment of innovative technologies, including bridging technologies, that contribute to the environmental or climate resilience or social sustainability objectives of the Union and that meet the environmental or social sustainability standards of the Union;
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – point i
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point e – point i
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Financing and investment operations shall be screened to determine whether they have an environmental, climate or social impact. If those operations have such an impact they shall be subject to climate, environmental and social sustainability proofing with a view to minimising detrimental impacts and to maximising benefits to the climate, environment and social dimensions. For that purpose, project promoters that request financing shall provide adequate information based on the guidance referred to in paragraph 4. Projects below a certain size specified in the guidance shall be excluded from the proofing. Projects that are inconsistent with the climate objectives, including nuclear energy production and those with important low-carbon bridging technologies such as natural gas, and carbon capture and storage, shall not be eligible for support under this Regulation. In case the implementing partner concludes that no sustainability proofing is to be carried out, it shall provide a justification to the Investment Committee.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) estimate the social impact of projects, including on gender equality, on the social inclusion of certain areas or populations and on the economic development of areas and sectors, such as coal-dependent regions, affected by structural challenges such as the need to decarbonise the economy;
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 1 – point a
Annex II – point 1 – point a
(a) the expansion of the generation, supply or use of clean and sustainable renewable and safe and sustainable other zero and low-emission energy sources and solutions, including nuclear power and bridging technology such as natural gas;
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 15
Annex II – point 15
15. Seas and oceans, through the development of projects and enterprises in the area of the blue economy, and the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles, in particular through maritime entrepreneurship and industry, renewable marine energy and circular economy solutions.
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex V – part 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Annex V – part 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex V – part 2 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – introductory part
Annex V – part 2 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – introductory part
(12) Investments related to mining or to the extraction, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of solid fossil fuels and oil, as well as investments related to the extraction of gas. This exclusion does not apply to: