Activities of Clotilde ARMAND related to 2020/2058(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan - How to finance the Green Deal
Amendments (32)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for sustainable development,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
- having regard to the Commission’s Communication "United in delivering the Energy Union and Climate Action - Setting the foundations for a successful clean energy transition",
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan (SEIP) as central in ensuring the success of the Green Deal and the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient economy in line with the principle of territorial cohesion; is of the opinion that financing made available under SEIP should compensate for the economic and social efforts in green transition and create new opportunities for workers and businesses;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission’s European Recovery Plan with the European Green Deal at its heart; endorses the underlying principle that public investments wishall respect the oath to ‘do no harm’; emphasises that national recovery and resilience plans should put the EU on the path to a 50 % to 55 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 and climate neutrality by 2050, thus ensuring Member States’ transition towards a circular and climate neutral economy;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the success of the EU’s aim to achieve climate neutrality will depend on the adequacy of the financing; underlines that the green transition should be inclusive and go in line with the principles of economics, social and environmental sustainability; recalls that saving and creation of jobs, as well as additional training and reskilling, are of utmost importance in the process of energy transition;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Questions whether the SEIP, as currently constituted, will enable the mobilisation of EUR 1 trillion by 2030, given the negative economic outlook following the COVID-19 crisis; requests the Commission to ensure full transparency on financing issues, such as the optimistic leverage effect or the lack of clarity over the extrapolations of certain amounts; furthermore questions how the new MFF as proposed by the Commission in its revised proposals of 27 and 28 May 2020 would enable the achievement of the SEIP targets; underlines that the SEIP is an EU long-term goal and cannot be undermined by lower MFFs in the future that would allocate a large part of money to the repayment of the borrowing;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Wishes to see it ensured that funding from the SEIP, at EU and national level, is based on scientific evidence and goes towards the policies and programmes with the highest potential to contribute to the fight against climate change, and looks forward to the Commission’s upcoming climate tracking methodology using appropriately the criteria established by the EU taxonomyimpact assessment results in each country; insists that in light of SEIP introduction impact assessments should be initiated in relation to other pieces of legislation, be they in vigour or in the process of adoption, notably Mobility Package I, to evaluate the compatibility of the existing EU legislation with the EU climate neutrality goals;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that public and private finance should adhere to the EU taxonomy and tonot be conditional on the principles of the EU taxonomy in order to allow swift investment into the transition projects; recalls that no strict investment rules should be introduced without prior consultation with the local and regional public authorities, industries and SMEs; believes that the financing should follow the Do Not Significantly Harm (DNSH) principle, in order to ensure that EU policies and financing, including the EU budget, the programmes financed through Next Generation EU, the European Semester and EIB financing do not contribute to objectives, projects and activities that significantly harm social or environmental objectives;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the gradual phasing-out of public and private investments in highly polluting and harmful industries for which economically feasible alternatives are available, while fully respecting the rights of Member States to choose their energy mix; recalls the need to avoid disruptive consequences for the social and employment conditions in transition areas; insists that the activities funded by SEIP must not contribute to further social inequalities and deepening of the East- West economic and social divide in the EU;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the phasing-out of public and private investments in highly polluting and harmful industries for which economically feasible alternatives are available, while fully respecting the rights of Member States to choose their energy mix and the importance of ensuring reliable and low or zero emission energy supply;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the central role of the EU budget in delivering the SEIP; reiterates its long-standing position that new initiatives should always be financed through additional appropriations and should not negatively affect other policies, notably cohesion and agriculture policies; underlines that the investment in research and innovation should contribute to the development of the EU know-how, notably in the renewables, and support the achievement of climate neutrality goals;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines that financing of EUR 1 trillion by 2030 foreseen by SEIP needs to be accompanied by private investments to meet the European Green Deal objectives for which public and private investments together must amount to 500 bn EUR/year; is of the opinion that specific focus should be put on private investment which needs to overweigh public investment in order to reduce the burden on the EU tax-payers;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Believes that private financing needs to be facilitated to the maximum and that financial stability of investments needs to be guaranteed for enterprises; is of the option that no regulatory framework restricting such investments can be introduced without prior evaluation of the economic impact and without preliminary adjustment of the enterprises’ investment plans; insists therefore that imposing artificial technical limits, such as taxonomy rules, without prior scientific and economic assessment on the ground would serve as an obstacle to projects capable of bringing development and growth to the regions and contributing to the objectives of the Green Deal;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the fact that, in order to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement, the EU’s contribution to the climate objectives should be underpinned by an ambitious share of climate and biodiversity-related expenditure in the EU budget, going beyond the levels of targeted spending shares of at least 25 % over the MFF 2021-2027 period and of 30% as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027aims, therefore, to achieve climate and biodiversity mainstreaming spending levels of 30% and 10% respectively;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the proposal to top up the Just Transition Fund (JTF), including with additional funds from Next Generation EU, and the two additional pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism, namely a dedicated scheme under InvestEU and a public sector loan facility, which will contribute to alleviating the economic and social effects of the transition to climate neutrality on the most vulnerable regions in the EU;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the role of InvestEU in the implementation and functioning of the SEIP and considers that it should be at the heart ofplay a key role in the Union’s green, fair and resilient recovery; welcomes, therefore, the Commission’s proposal to increase the programme’s size and scope; welcomes the proposal to create a Strategic Investment Facility within InvestEU to promote sustainable investments in key technologies and value chains;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Supports the Commission’s innovative approach in stating that the EU budget will contribute to achieving climate objectives also through its revenue side; underlines that the existing EU financial resources are not enough to deliver on the SEIP goals and will only accept the budget proposal if it foresees new own resources in order to avoid any burden on taxpayers or reduction of financing for other strategic policies;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reaffirms its previous position regarding candidates for new own resources, and calls on the Commission to propose new own resources which correspond to essential EU objectives including the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment; asks, therefore, for the introduction of new own resources based on the auction revenues of the Emissions Trading System, a contribution on non-recycled plastic packaging waste, the future Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base or a precursor based on oper, a tax on large digital companies, and a financial transaction tax; asks the Commission to provide details about the own resources presented in its Communications of large enterprises, a tax on digital companies, and a financial transaction tax; 27 May 2020 on the Recovery Plan as soon as possible; considers that a clear calendar establishing a binding introduction of new own resources in the course of the next MFF is necessary; recalls its position in favour of new own resources destined to repay at least the capital and the interests of the borrowing implied by the Recovery Instrument;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines that both types of revenues, environmental and non- specifically environmental, will be indispensable for the establishment of a reliable basket of new genuine own resources, since the amount of income produced by environmental revenues will proportionally decrease over the time with the adoption of green practices by contributors and will therefore need to be compensated by resources generated by single market revenues; stresses the emergency to agree on the own resources with the highest potential revenues;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the Commission to take account of the stranded assets in energy projects that might result in each EU Member State as a result of transition; underlines that in order to compensate for the economic losses related to transition, investments are needed for the energy projects that have already been started and that act as a transition solution from fossil fuel to green energy;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Underlines that the financing needed to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 amounts to 500 bn EUR/year and insists that at least half of it should be raised from private investments; specific dialogues between public and private sectors, as well as between financial institutions and industry representatives should facilitate private investment into sustainable projects; such dialogues will be based on the findings of scientific research which should also receive financing under SEIP;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recognises the important role of the national promotional banks and institutions and of international financial institutions (IFIs) in the financing of sustainable projects of the Green Deal linked to the SEIP, thereby contributing to the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement; underlines that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) can help to achieve the SEIP and mobilise investments in Europe and beyond for the protection of climate and environment;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recognises the important role of the national promotional banks and institutions and of international financial institutions (IFIs) in the financing of sustainable projects, thereby contributing to the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement; underlines that the financing of SMEs is key to successful implementation of the SEIP;
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Insists on the integration of social objectives in the sustainability framework, including through an evaluation of extending the scope of taxonomy and the development of an EU Social Bond Standard;
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Recalls that investments in unsustainable economic activities may lead to stranded assets with lock-in effects; considers this risk to be insufficiently integrated in credit ratings and prudential frameworks, which should be addressed in forthcoming reviews of the CRA, CRR /CRD and the Solvency frameworks;
Amendment 441 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Recalls that in order to attain a high level of financial absorption, the Commission has to provide technical assistance to national public authorities in drafting transition plans, as well as in related administrative procedures;
Amendment 462 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for the introduction of an enabling framework for public sustainable investments to achieve the goals set out in the European Green Deal, but stresses that whatever financing model is chosen must not undermine the sustainability of public finance in the EU; supports the commitment by EVP Dombrovskis to explore how taxonomy can be used in the public sector; calls for public support for airlines to be used in a sustainable and efficient manner;
Amendment 498 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that recovery and resilience plans will be based on shared EU priorities; highlights in this context the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights; seeks the inclusion of priorities in areas such as employment, skills, education, research and innovation and health, but also in areas related to the business environment, including public administration and the financial sector; recalls the need to avoid economic divergence among Member States in implementing the SEIP that might result in a slow-down of economic recovery;
Amendment 508 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses that the increased financing of the Green Deal will imply major budgetary discipline and major control in order to prevent fraud and fund diversion; insists therefore that additional financing should be conditional upon the State’s membership in the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO); recalls that the EU should be able to tackle crimes against its financial interests also in the matter of green investment; notes that the European Anti- Fraud Office (OLAF) also has an important role to play in this matter, however the existing tools proved to be insufficient in tackling financial fraud, which makes necessary the EPPO jurisdiction over all Member States who benefit from SEIP;
Amendment 553 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Wishes it to be ensured that all contribute equitably to the post-corona recovery and the transition to a sustainable economy; seeks an intensified fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning; calls on the Commission to create a blacklist of EU Member States facilitating tax avoidance; calls for EU-level coordination to avoid aggressive tax planning by individuals and corporates; seeks in this context an ambitious strategy for business taxation for the 21st century; welcomes the Commission's announcement to propose an EU level supervisor and supervisory body to fight money laundering and terrorist financing and underlines the necessity for sufficient resources to make this effective to be made available;
Amendment 569 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on the Commission to put in place effective data monitoring and reporting of the SEIP implementation, making it available to the public to guarantee the full transparency of the EU green transition spending;