55 Amendments of Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO related to 2020/0006(COD)
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The regulatory framework governing the Union’s cohesion policy for the period from 2021 to 2027, in the context of the next multi-annual financial framework, contributes to the fulfilment of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating Union funding on green objectives. This Regulation implements one of the priorities set out in the Communication on the European Green Deal (‘the European Green Deal’)11 and is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan12 providing dedicated financing under the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to address the economic and social costs of the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptions and where resources are used sustainably. _________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral and circular economy constitutes one of the most important policy objectives for the Union. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. While fighting climate change and environmental degradation will benefit all in the long term and provides opportunities and challenges for all in the medium term, not all regions and Member States start their transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond and not all have to the same extent adopted policies and measures to facilitate transition. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic impactimpact in economic, labour and social terms for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, peat and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries. Such a situation not only creates the risk of a variable speed transition in the Union as regards climate action, but also of growing disparities between regions, detrimental to the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair and socially acceptable for all. A just climate and energy transition must not leave anyone behind and should create conditions to eradicate energy poverty. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and social implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences. The Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) As set out in the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, a Just Transition Mechanism should complement the other actions under the next multi-annual financial framework for the period from 2021 to 2027. It should contribute to addressing the social and economic consequences of transitioning towards Union climate neutrality by 2050 by bringing together the Union budget’s spending on climate and social objectives at regional level.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate and environmental transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The Just Transition Fund will, through the reform of the Common Provisions Regulation, be integrated within the Cohesion Policy Funds package. As such, it should ensure compliance with the provisions of Article 174(1) TFEU by promoting ‘actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion’. Thus, the Just Transition Fund should throughout its regulatory provisions reflect the objective of reducing differences between the different regions, with particular emphasis on the least favoured, in order to avoid potential economic or social disadvantages in the transition process.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) A Just Transition Fund must not exacerbate existing inequalities between Member States nor weaken the Single Market.
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate and environmental actions. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25 % of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) A just transition also implies supporting those most affected by climate change. The impacts of a changing climate will have a disproportionate effect on certain regions and communities which, in a spirit of European solidarity, should be supported.
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy and the allocation criteria should take account of the level of economic development of the Member States and regions and their concomitant investment capacity.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework for the JTF, the Commission should set out the annual breakdown of available allocations per Member State and adjustments resulting from interim investments under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, based on objective criteriaand transparent criteria in the JTF allocation system including a fair allocation mechanism both from the Union to the Member States and from the Member States to their regions.
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights and of the European Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a gradual and full transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. The aggravating factors to be taken into account are the unemployment rate, depopulation trends and past conversion efforts linked to fossil fuels that have weakened the associated economic fabric in the regions. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and, connectivity and sustainable mobility, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a sustainable, climate- neutral and circular economy. _________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To protect citizens who are most vulnerable to the climate transition, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers, with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities and of self-employed workers whose activity is affected as a result of significant structural changes, with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities and new professional qualifications that are suited to a circular, green and digital economy, as well as providing job-search assistance to jobseekers and their active inclusion into the labour market. Particular emphasis should be placed on young and older workers and those who find it hardest to regain a foothold on the labour market.
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral national economy. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, notably local actors and social partners as well as researchers, and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans with the European Pillar of Social Rights and increasing their climate ambition. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors as well as the analysis, assessment and follow up and monitoring of the aid.
Amendment 291 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide economic, individual and environmental support to territories facing serious socio- economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards the Union's 2030 target for climate set out in Article 2(11) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050.
Amendment 298 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. It lays down the specific objective of the JTF, its geographical coverage and resources, the scope of its support with regard to the Investment for jobs and growth goal referred to in [point (a) of Article 4(2)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] as well as specific provisions for programming and, criteria and transparent targets, as well as indicators necessary for monitoring.
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], the JTF shall contribute to the single specific objective ‘enabling regions and people to address the social, employment, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economy’. by 2050, including achievement of the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions target for 2030.
Amendment 316 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall support the Investment for jobs and growth goal in all Member States that have supported the 2050 climate neutrality target, are demonstrating commitment through their national energy and climate plans and require financial assistance to achieve a resilient and climate-neutral economy by 2050.
Amendment 396 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) investments in research and innovation activities, including energy research, and fostering the transfer of advanced technologies;
Amendment 403 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable and sustainable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy, including storage technology, to facilitate alternative solutions such as sustainable mobility or building renovation, for example;
Amendment 432 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) investments in digitalisation and digital connectivity including equipment and appliance load monitoring, and communications research and technology, facilitating the development of demand- side response and precision agriculture;
Amendment 461 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) investments in environmental transformation in sectors that are economically relevant to regions in transition, such as tourism or agriculture;
Amendment 474 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g b (new)
(gb) green infrastructure;
Amendment 484 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
(h) upskilling and reskilling of workers, the self-employed and the most vulnerable;
Amendment 520 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point k a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point k a (new)
(ka) any other specific activities, as agreed between the relevant local and regional bodies in the territory concerned, the Member State and the European Commission, that are in line with local development strategies and facilitate the transition towards a carbon-neutral EU economy by 2050;
Amendment 529 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Additionally, the JTF may support, in areas designated as assisted areas in accordance with points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) of the TFEU, productive investments in enterprises other than SMEs, provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (h) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan and where they facilitate transition to a climate- neutral economy without relocation, in line with Article 60 of Regulation No .../... [CPR]..
Amendment 553 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 571 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of fossil fuels not leading to a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions;
Amendment 573 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the mining, production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of fossil fuels, including the opening of new mines;
Amendment 584 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Amendment 590 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) investment in companies other than SMEs, involving the transfer of jobs, capital and production processes from one Member State to another.
Amendment 595 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 (new)
No aid shall be granted to operations in a NUTS 2 region in which the opening of a new coal, lignite or bituminous shale mine or peat extraction field or the reopening of a coal, lignite or bituminous shale mine or peat extraction field that would otherwise have been provisionally decommissioned are planned in the course of the programme under a regional just transition plan.
Amendment 629 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The JTF priority or priorities shall comprise the JTF resources consisting of all or part of the JTF allocation for the Member States and the resources transferred in accordance with Article [21a] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. The total of the ERDF and ESF+ resources transferred to the JTF priority shall be at least equal to one and a half times the amount of support from the JTF to that priority but shall not exceed three times that amount, ensuring that JTF appropriations are additional to the ERDF and ESF resources routinely earmarked for each region.
Amendment 666 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, together with the relevant regional and local authorities of the territories concerned, one or more territorial just transition plans covering one or more affected territories corresponding to level 3 of the common classification of territorial units for statistics (‘NUTS level 3 regions’) as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/201417 or parts thereof, in accordance with the template set out in Annex II. Those territories shall be those most negatively affected based on the employment, economic and social impacts resulting from the transition, in particular with regard to expected job losses in fossil fuel production and use and the transformation needs of the production processes of industrial facilities with the highest greenhouse gas intensity. _________________ 17 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 683 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) a description of the transition process at national level towards a climate- neutral economy, including transition measures already taken and a timeline for the next key transition steps which are consistent with the latest version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (‘NECP’);
Amendment 687 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) a justification for identifying the territories as most negatively affected by the transition process referred to in point (a) and to be supported by the JTF, in accordance with paragraph 1, including indicators such as the unemployment rate and the depopulation rate, as well as previous efforts made in the territory to foster the decarbonisation of key sectors and activities;
Amendment 692 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Amendment 693 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b b (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b b (new)
(bb) a clear commitment to achieving the objective of a climate- neutral EU by 2050 and meeting the 2030 reduction targets;
Amendment 709 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) a description of the expected contribution of the JTF support to addressing the social, demographic, economic and environmental impacts of the transition to a climate-neutral economy;
Amendment 786 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
Amendment 797 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Where the Commission concludes, based on the examination of the final performance report of the programme, that there is a failure to achieve at least 65% of the target established for one or more output or result indicators for the JTF resources, it may make financial corrections pursuant to Article [98] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] by reducing the support from the JTF to the priority concerned in proportion to the achievements.
Amendment 814 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i). greenhouse-gas emissions of industrial facilities in NUTS level 2 regions where the carbon intensity, as defined by the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions of industrial facilities as reported by Member States in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council28 compared to the gross value added of the industry, exceeds by a factor of two the EU-27 average. Where that level is not exceeded in any NUTS level 2 regions in a given Member State, greenhouse-gas emissions of industrial facilities in the NUTS level 2 region with the highest carbon intensity is taken into account (weighting 49%), _________________ 28Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending Council Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC (OJ L 33, 4.2.2006, p. 1).: 25%),
Amendment 826 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Amendment 827 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii a (new)
(iia) the unemployment rate in the territory (weighting: 20%);
Amendment 828 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii b (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii b (new)
(iib) prior efforts to meet climate and environmental objectives, taking into account the resulting economic impact and lob losses (weighting: 15%);
Amendment 829 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii c (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii c (new)
(bc) the depopulation rate (weighting: 15%);
Amendment 832 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
(iii) employment in industry in the NUTS level 2 regions taken into account for the purposes of point (i) (weighting 25: 12%),
Amendment 835 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
(iiia) The unemployment rate, in particular among young people and older workers who find it hardest to regain a foothold on the labour market.
Amendment 849 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the allocations resulting from the application of point (a) are adjusted to ensure that no Member State receives an amount exceeding EUR 2 billion or over EUR 40 per capita of its population for the entire period. The amounts exceeding EUR 2 billionthe previous limits per Member State are redistributed proportionally to the allocations of all other Member States. The Member States shares are recalculated accordingly;
Amendment 863 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
(d) the allocations resulting from the application of point (c) are adjusted to ensure that the final allocation from the JTF results in a per capitan aid intensity (measured on the basis of the entireunemployed population of the Member State) of at least EUR 60.15 per person unemployed over the entire period.
Amendment 865 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
(d) the allocations resulting from the application of point (c) are adjusted to ensure that the final allocation from the JTF results in a per capita aid intensity (measured on the basis of the entire population of the Member State) of at least EUR 64 over the entire period.
Amendment 884 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – subheading 1
Annex III – subheading 1
REGIONAL POLICY Common output INDICATORS (‘RCO’) and REGIONAL POLICY Common result indicators (‘RCR’) for the Just Transition Fund29 _________________ 29For presentational reasons, indicators are grouped to provide for easier matching with the indicators included in other cohesion policy fund-specific regulations.for the Just Transition Fund29
Amendment 901 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – subheading 1
Annex III – subheading 1
REGIONAL POLICY COMMON OUTPUT INDICATORS (‘RCO’) AND REGIONAL POLICY COMMON RESULT INDICATORS (‘RCR’) FOR THE JUST TRANSITION FUND2 2 For presentational reasons, indicators are grouped to provide for easier matching with the indicators included in other cohesion policy fund-specific regulations.FOR THE JUST TRANSITION FUND deleted
Amendment 902 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – column 1 – Outputs – rows 7 and 8
Annex III – column 1 – Outputs – rows 7 and 8
RCO 39: Systems for monitoring air pollution installed for participants3 4: 3All output and result indicators related to participants are to be reported. All personal data are to be broken down by gender (male/female – non-binary). Where certain results are not possible, it is not necessary to collect and report data for those result indicators. When data are collected from registers, Member States do not need to align with commonly agreed definitions and may use national definitions.
Amendment 903 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – column 2 – Results
Annex III – column 2 – Results