Activities of Bogdan RZOŃCA related to 2023/0199(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241
Amendments (16)
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) There is a need to support critical technologies in the following fields: deep and digital technologies, clean technologies, and biotechnologies (including the respective critical raw materials value chains), in particular projects, companies and sectors with a critical role for EU’s competitiveness and resilience and its value chains. By way of example, deep technologies and digital technologies should include microelectronics, high-performance computing, quantum technologies (i.e., computing, communication and sensing technologies), cloud computing, edge computing, and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity technologies, robotics, 5G and advanced connectivity and virtual realities, including actions related to deep and digital technologies for the development of defence and aerospace applications. Clean technologies should include, among others, renewable energy; electricity and heat storage; heat pumps; electricity grid; renewable fuels of non- biological origin; sustainable alternative fuels; electrolysers and fuel cells; carbon capture, utilisation and storage; energy efficiency; hydrogen and its related infrastructure; smart energy solutions; technologies vital to sustainability such as water purification and desalination; advanced materials such as nanomaterials, composites and future clean construction materials, and technologies for the sustainable extraction and processing of critical raw materials. It should also include nuclear energy fully recognising the strategic importance of the European nuclear supply chain for energy security and transition targets. Biotechnology should be considered to include technologies such as biomolecules and its applications, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies vital for health security, crop biotechnology, and industrial biotechnology, such as for waste disposal, and biomanufacturing. The Commission may issue guidance to further specify the scope of the technologies in these three fields considered to be critical in accordance with this Regulation, in order to promote a common interpretation of the projects, companies and sectors to be supported under the respective programmes in light of the common strategic objective. Moreover, technologies in any of these three fields which are subjects of an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b) TFEU should be deemed to be critical, and individual projects within the scope of such an IPCEI should be eligible for funding, in accordance with the respective programme rules, to the extent that the identified funding gap and the eligible costs have not yet been completely covered.
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The scale of investments needed for the transition require a full mobilisation of funding available under existing EU programmes and funds, inclusive those granting a budgetary guarantee for financing and investment operations and implementation of financial instruments and blending operations. Such funding should be deployed in a more flexible manner, to provide timely and targeted support for critical technologies in strategic sectors. Therefore, a Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) should give a structural answer to the Union investment needs by helping to better channel the existing EU funds towards critical investments aimed at supporting the development or manufacturing of critical technologies, while preserving a level playing field in the Single Market, thereby preserving cohesion and aiming at a geographically balanced distribution of projects financed under the STEP in accordance with the respective programme mandates. It should also address the problem of market-distorting subsidy race to lure green investments within the Union that was launched with relaxation of state aid rules. The race that undermines the level playing field, compromises fairness among Member States with different fiscal capacities and contributes to fragmentation within the bloc to countries - producers of new technologies and countries that are left with a role of consumers of these technologies. The Platform, that would serve as a prototype of Sovereignty Fund, should constitute an effective solution for prioritizing European industrial champions on the global stage without undermining EU cohesiveness.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Directive 2003/87/EC54 should be amended to allow for additional financing with a financial envelope for the period 2024-2027 of EUR 5 billion. The Innovation Fund supports investments in innovative low-carbon technologies, which is a scope that is to be covered by the STEP. The increase in volume of the Innovation Fund should therefore allow to provide financing responding to the objective of supporting the development or manufacturing in the Union of critical clean technologies. In line with the objectives of ensuring cohesion and promoting the Single Market, and in order to support the green transition and the development of clean technologies throughout the Union, and to mitigate unhealthy competition to lure green investments that compromises fiscal stability and fairness among Member States, the additional financial envelope should be made available through calls for proposals open to entities from Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017. _________________ 54 Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 235 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) an amount of EUR 58 000 000 000 in current prices of the financial envelope referred to in the sixth subparagraph of Article 10a(8) of Directive 2003/87/EC. That amount shall be implemented within the Innovation Fund in accordance with the rules of Article 10a(8) of Directive 2003/87/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation [2019/856].
Amendment 237 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) An amount of EUR 12 500 000 000 in current prices of the financial envelope referred to in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/697. That amount shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/697.
Amendment 260 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. When revising their recovery and resilience plans in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Member States shallmay, without prejudice to the provisions of that Regulation, consider as a priority action which have been awarded a Sovereignty Seal in accordance with paragraph 1.
Amendment 262 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. When deciding on investment projects to finance from their respective shares of the Modernisation Fund in accordance with Article 10d of Directive 2003/87/EC, Member States shallmay consider as a priority project for critical clean technologies which have received the Sovereignty Seal in accordance with paragraph 1. In addition, Member States may decide to grant national support to projects with a Sovereignty Seal contributing to the Platform objective referred to in Article 2(1), point (a)(ii).
Amendment 306 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 – subsection a – point 8 – sixth subparagraph
Article 10 – subsection a – point 8 – sixth subparagraph
In addition to the allowances referred to in the first to fifth subparagraphs of this paragraph, the Innovation Fund shall also implement a financial envelope for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027 of EUR 58 000 000 000 in current prices for supporting investments contributing to the STEP objective referred to in Article 2, point (a)(ii) of Regulation .../...63 [STEP Regulation]. This financial envelope shall be made available to support investments only in Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017 _________________ 63 Regulation …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council … [insert full title and OJ reference].
Amendment 317 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1056
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point f
(1a) Article 8(2), point (f) is replaced by the following: ‘investments in smart and sustainable mobility, including decarbonisation of the transport sector, its infrastructure and purchase of low-emission bus and rail- rolling stock;’
Amendment 318 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1056
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point i
(1b) Article 8(2), point (i) is replaced by the following: ‘investments in regeneration and decontamination of brownfield sites, land restoration and including, where necessary, green infrastructure and repurposing projects, taking into account the ‘polluter pays’ principle, as well as investments in revitalisation and repurposing of mines surrounding urban areas;
Amendment 322 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1056
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
(2a) In Article 10, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following: In accordance with Article 112 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the co- financing rate, applicable to the region where the territory or territories identified in the territorial just transition plans in accordance with Article 11 of this Regulation are located, for the JTF priority or priorities shall not be higher than 85 %.
Amendment 328 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1060
Article 112 – paragraph 3 – fifth subparagraph
Article 112 – paragraph 3 – fifth subparagraph
(3a) In Article 112(3), the fifth subparagraph is replaced by the following: 'The co-financing rate, applicable to the region where the territory or territories identified in the territorial just transition plans are located, for the priority supported by the JTF shall not be higher than 85%.'
Amendment 330 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 65 – paragraph 2
Article 65 – paragraph 2
(-1) In Article 65, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: 'Expenditure shall be eligible for a contribution from the ESI Funds if it has been incurred by a beneficiary and paid between the date of submission of the programme to the Commission or from 1 January 2014, whichever is earlier, and 31 December 2024. In addition, expenditure shall only be eligible for a contribution from the EAFRD if the relevant aid is actually paid by the paying agency between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2024.'
Amendment 357 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/523
Article 13 – paragraph 7 – second subparagraph
Article 13 – paragraph 7 – second subparagraph
(6a) In Article 13 (7), second subparagraph is replaced by the following: Contracts between the implementing partner and the final recipient or the financial intermediary or other entity referred to in point (a) of Article 16(1) under the EU guarantee referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 4(2) shall be signed at the latest two years after the approval of the relevant financing or investment operation by the implementing partner. In other cases, contracts between the implementing partner and the final recipient or the financial intermediary or other entity referred to in point (a) of Article 16(1) shall be signed by 31 December 2028.
Amendment 389 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Regulation (EU) 2021/697
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
An amount of EUR 12 500 000 000 in current prices of the amount referred to in paragraph 2 shall be allocated to calls for proposals or awards of funding supporting investments contributing to the STEP objectives referred to in Article 2(1), point (a)(i) of Regulation .../...70 [STEP Regulation]. _________________ 70 Regulation …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council … [insert full title and OJ reference].
Amendment 393 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 a (new) Regulation (EU) 2021/1755
Article 19 a (new) Regulation (EU) 2021/1755
Article 19a Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/1755 [BAR] Regulation (EU) 2021/1755 is amended as follows: (1) Article 4a is added: ‘Transfer to the European Regional Development Fund or the European Social Fund Plus' 1. By 30 September 2024, Member States may submit to the Commission an amendment of a programme in accordance with the Art 24 of the CPR to transfer all or part of the amounts of their provisional allocation set out in the implementing act of the Commission referred to in Article 4(5) to dedicated priorities established to support STEP objectives, supported by the ERDF or the ESF +. If the transfer request is approved, the Commission shall amend the implementing act in order to reflect the adjusted amounts following the transfer. 2. Transferred resources shall be implemented in accordance with the rules of the Fund to which the resources are transferred. 3. Where a Member State chooses to transfer all of its provisional allocation to the ERDF or the ESF +, Article 10(1) shall not apply. 4. Article 10(2) shall not apply to the resources transferred to the ERDF or the ESF +.’