25 Amendments of Irène TOLLERET related to 2021/0203(COD)
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The higher level of ambition requires a stronger promotion of cost- effective energy efficiency measures in all areas of the energy system and in all relevant sectors where activity affects energy demand, such as the transport, water and agriculture sectors. Improving energy efficiency throughout the full energy chain, including energy generation, transmission, distribution and end-use, will benefit the environment, improve air quality and public health, reduce GHG emissions, improve energy security, cut energy costs for households and companies, help alleviate energy poverty and the associated inequalities, and lead to increased competitiveness, more jobs and increased economic activity throughout the economy, thus improving citizens' quality of life. That complies with the Union commitments made in the framework of the Energy Union and global climate agenda established by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) This Directive takes a step forward towards climate neutrality by 2050 , under which energy efficiency is to be treated as an energy source in its own right. The energy efficiency first principle is an overarching principle that should be taken into account across all sectors, going beyond the energy system, at all levels, including in the financial sector. Energy efficiency solutions should be considered as the first option in policy, planning and investment decisions, when setting new rules for the supply side and other policy areas. While the energy efficiency first principle should be applied without prejudice to other legal obligations, objectives and principles, they should also not hamper its application or exempt from applying the principle. The Commission should ensure that energy efficiency and demand-side response can compete on equal terms with generation capacity. Energy efficiency improvements need to be made whenever they are more cost- effective than equivalent supply-side solutions. That should help exploit the multiple benefits of energy efficiency for the Union, in particular for citizens and businesses. Implementing energy efficiency improvement measures should also be a priority in alleviating energy poverty and its gendered consequences.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Energy efficiency should be recognised as a crucial element and a priority consideration in future investment decisions on the Union's energy infrastructure. The energy efficiency first principle should be applied taking primarily the system efficiency approach and an inclusive societal perspective into consideration, ensuring that inequalities are addressed. Consequently, it should help increase the efficiency of individual end-use sectors and of the whole energy system. Application of the principle should also support investments in energy- efficient solutions contributing to environmental objectives listed in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council50 . _________________ 50 OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13–43.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 49
Recital 49
(49) Where using an obligation scheme, Member States should designate obligated parties among transmission system operators, energy distributors, retail energy sales companies and transport fuel distributors or retailers on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria. The designation or exemption from designation of certain categories of such distributors or retailers should not be understood to be incompatible with the principle of non-discrimination. Member States are therefore able to choose whether such transmission system operators, distributors or retailers or only certain categories thereof are designated as obligated parties. To empower and protect vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty, such as women in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, children, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds, and people living in social housing, and to implement policy measures as a priority among those people, Member States can require obligated parties to achieve energy savings among vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and people living in social housing. For that purpose, Member States can also establish energy cost reduction targets. Obligated parties could achieve these targets by promoting the installation of measures that lead to energy savings and financial savings on energy bills, such as the installation of insulation and heating measures.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 53
Recital 53
(53) As an alternative to requiring obligated parties to achieve the amount of cumulative end-use energy savings required under Article 8(1) of this Directive, it should be possible for Member States, in their obligation schemes, to permit or require obligated parties to contribute to an Energy Efficiency National Fund , which could be used to implement policy measures as a priority among vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and people living in social housing . Measures using Energy Efficiency National Funds should be designed with principles of inclusivity and accessibility for all, including women, persons with disabilities, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds.
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 62
Recital 62
(62) Around 34 million households in the Union were unable to keep their home adequately warm in 201974 . The European Green Deal prioritises the social dimension of the transition by committing to the principle that `no one is left behind´. The green transition, including the clean transition, affects women and men differently, in particular due to the gender pay and pension gaps, and may have a particular impact on some disadvantaged groups including people with disabilities. Energy efficiency measures must therefore be central to any cost-effective strategy to address energy poverty and consumer vulnerability and are complementary to social security policies at Member State level. To ensure that energy efficiency measures reduce energy poverty for tenants sustainably, the cost-effectiveness of such measures, as well as their affordability to property owners and tenants, should be taken into account, and adequate financial and technical support for such measures should be guaranteed at Member State level. Member States should support the local and regional level in identifying and alleviating energy poverty. The Union's building stock needs, in the long term, to be converted to NZEBs in accordance with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Current building renovation rates are insufficient and buildings occupied by citizens on low incomes who are affected by energy poverty are the hardest to reach. The measures laid down in this Directive with regard to energy savings obligations, energy efficiency obligation schemes and alternative policy measures are therefore of particular importance. _________________ 74 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 14.10.2020 on energy poverty, C(2020) 9600 final.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 96
Recital 96
(96) It is necessary to ensure that people affected by energy poverty, in particular low-income households, women in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, children, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds, vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing are protected and, to this end, empowered to actively participate in the energy efficiency improvement interventions, measures and related consumer protection or information measures that Member States implement. Inclusivity and accessibility principles should be incorporated in the design of such measures.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 97
Recital 97
(97) Public funding available at national and Union level should be strategically invested into energy efficiency improvement measures, in particular for the benefit of vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and those living in social housing. Member States should take advantage of any financial contribution they might receive from the Social Climate Fund82 , and of revenues from allowances from the EU Emissions Trading System. These revenues will support Member States in fulfilling their obligation to implement energy efficiency measures and policy measures under the energy savings obligation as a priority among vulnerable customers and people affected by energy poverty, which may include women, people with disabilities, older people, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants, persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds, and those living in rural and remote regions. _________________ 82 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Social Climate Fund, COM 2021 568 final.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 98
Recital 98
(98) National funding schemes should be complemented by suitable schemes of better information, technical and administrative assistance, and easier access to finance designed with principles of inclusivity and accessibility, that will enable the best use of the available funds especially by people affected by energy poverty, in particular women, persons with disabilities, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds, vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 99
Recital 99
(99) Member States should empower and protect all people equally, irrespective of their sex, gender, age, disability, race or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and ensure that those most affected or put at greater risk of being affected by energy poverty, or most exposed to the adverse impacts of energy poverty, are adequately protected. In addition, Member States should ensure that energy efficiency measures do not exacerbate any existing inequalities, notably with respect to energy poverty.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that regional and local authorities, establish specific energy efficiency measures in their decarbonisation plans after consulting national equality bodies, experts, relevant stakeholders and the public, including the particular groups at risk of energy poverty or more susceptible to its effects, such as women, persons with disabilities, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, children, migrants and persons with a minorityfrom diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Member States shall implement energy efficiency obligation schemes, alternative policy measures, or a combination of both, or programmes or measures financed under an Energy Efficiency National Fund, as a priority among people affected by energy poverty, particularly people experiencing intersectional discrimination such as women in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, children, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds, vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing. Member States shall ensure that policy measures implemented pursuant to this Article have no adverse effect on those persons. Where applicable, Member States shall make the best possible use of funding, including public funding, funding facilities established at Union level, and revenues from allowances pursuant to Article 22(3)(b) with the aim of removing adverse effects and ensuring a just and inclusive energy transition.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. Member States may require obligated parties to achieve a share of their energy savings obligation among people affected by energy poverty, in particular those facing intersecting forms of discrimination vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing. Member States may also require obligated parties to achieve energy cost reduction targets and to achieve energy savings by promoting energy efficiency improvement measures, including financial support measures mitigating carbon price effects on SMEs and micro-SMEs.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 5
Article 9 – paragraph 5
5. Member States may require obligated parties to work with local authorities or municipalities to promote energy efficiency improvement measures among people affected by energy poverty, including people experiencing intersecting forms of discrimination, vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing. This includes identifying and addressing the specific needs of particular groups at risk of energy poverty or, such as women, or groups more susceptible to its effects. To protect people affected by energy poverty vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing, Member States shall encourage obligated parties to carry out actions such as renovation of buildings, including social housing, replacement of appliances, financial support and incentives for energy efficiency improvement measures in conformity with national financing and support schemes, or energy audits.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 6
Article 9 – paragraph 6
6. Member States shall require obligated parties to report on an annual basis on the energy savings achieved by the obligated parties from actions promoted among people affected by energy poverty, vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing, including those actions specifically directed to women and people experiencing intersecting forms of discrimination, and shall require aggregated statistical information on their final customers (identifying changes in energy savings to previously submitted information), with where possible a breakdown of customers by gender, and regarding technical and financial support provided.
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Article 21 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall establish appropriate conditions for market actors to provide adequate and targeted information and advice to final consumers , including vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty with special attention to women, and, where applicable, people living in social housing on energy efficiency.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 21 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Member States shall ensure that final customers, final users, vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty particularly people experiencing intersectional discrimination such as women in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds and, where applicable, people living in social housing, have access to simple, fair, transparent, independent, effective and efficient out-of-court mechanisms for the settlement of disputes concerning rights and obligations established under this Directive, through an independent mechanism such as an energy ombudsperson or a consumer body, or through a regulatory authority. Where the final customer is a consumer as defined in Article 4(1)(a) of Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council100 , such out-of-court dispute settlement mechanisms shall comply with the requirements set out therein. _________________ 100 Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (Directive on consumer ADR) (OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, p. 63).
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall take appropriate measures to empower and protect people affected by energy poverty, in particular people experiencing intersectional forms of discrimination such as women in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people, older persons, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 2
Article 22 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall implement energy efficiency improvement measures and related consumer protection or information measures, in particular those set out in Article 21 and Article 8(3), as a priority among people affected by energy poverty, vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing to alleviate energy poverty. Member States shall introduce monitoring and evaluation instruments to ensure that people at risk of energy poverty are supported by energy efficiency measures.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point e
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point e
e) foster technical assistance for social actors to promote vulnerable customer´s active engagement in the energy market, and positive changes in their energy consumption behaviour, taking also into consideration the gender patterns in energy consumption;
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 22 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b
b) to develop or improve relevant indicators and data sets, pertinent to the issue of energy poverty, that should be used and reported upon;. More reliable and complete gender-disaggregated data should also be a priority for the network.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 22 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
c) to set up methods and measures to ensure affordability, the promotion of housing cost neutrality, or ways to ensure that public funding invested in energy efficiency improvement measures benefit both, owners and tenants, of buildings and building units, in particular regarding vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty, and, where applicable, people living in social housing, with a gender-equality perspective;
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that the public, including civil society organisation and those experiencing intersecting forms of discrimination such as women, older persons, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants, and persons from diverse social, racial or ethnic backgrounds, is given the opportunity to participate in the preparation of heating and cooling plans, the comprehensive assessment and the policies and measures.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall ensure the appropriate level of competences for energy efficiency professions that corresponds to the market needs. Particular attention shall be paid to increasing the participation of women in these professions. Member States in close cooperation with the social partners shall ensure that certification and/or equivalent qualification schemes, including, where necessary, suitable training programmes, are available for energy efficiency professions including providers of energy services, providers of energy audits, energy managers, independent experts and installers of building elements pursuant to Directive 2010/31/EU, and are reliable and contribute to national energy efficiency objectives and the overall EU decarbonisation objectives.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 2
Article 28 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall, where appropriate, directly or via the European financial institutions, assist Member States in setting up financing facilities and project development assistance facilities at national, regional or local level with the aim of increasing investments in energy efficiency in different sectors , and, setting up specific and targeted funding to protecting and empowering vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and, where applicable, people living in social housing including by integrating an equal gender equality and diversity perspective so that no one is left behind .