Activities of Manuel PIZARRO related to 2020/0006(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Just Transition Fund (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund
Amendments (40)
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a 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. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic, labour, economic and cultural impact for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, peat and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries and other energy intensive sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals, glass and transport, that will require significant support in order to adapt and modernize. 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 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair and socially acceptable for allsocially sustainable and acceptable for all and to improve welfare and living conditions. 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 and enhance the positive ones, such as the creation of new, decent and sustainable jobs. The Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) To cope with social imbalances and tensions between tradition and innovation caused by profound structural changes such as the current transition, and because environmental and ecological change requires social and behavioural change and thus must be balanced by an understanding of peoples’ needs and aspirations, the JTF should reflect social sustainability as a precondition to the sustainable development that underpins the European Green Deal. Given that society and nature are deeply interconnected, a successful paradigm shift to a climate-neutral economy that truly leaves no one behind and is socially just in the long term should rest in a dynamic correlation between social, economic and environmental sustainability. In order to contribute to sustainable social development as a way for long-term environmental and economic sustainability, while simultaneously advancing the European social model as a future-oriented asset, the JTF should be a promoter of equity and wellbeing, social cohesion and security, inter- and intra-generational solidarity and redistribution of wealth, equitable access to basic needs, social services and resources, decent livelihoods, quality jobs, socially sustainable businesses, civic engagement and participation in decision-making, as well as a sense of place and community belonging for the present and future generations. To this end, the JTF should rely on valid social sustainability indicators and multidimensional benchmarking for effective guidance and monitoring of its implementation.
Amendment 128 #
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 actions and should be conditional on the acceptance of the EU objective of climate neutrality by 2050 as well as the intermediate targets. 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 143 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement and be additional in relation to the resources available under cohesion policy, without in any way reducing the resources available under the latter and therefore undermining its current objectives.
Amendment 163 #
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 the European Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a 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, to the corresponding reduction in the employment levelreation of quality jobs and social progress. 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. 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, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a 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 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The JTF should also be used to support investment in social, education, health and cultural projects, in particular in regions that depend on a carbon intensive economy and that are affected by the structural transition to a resource efficient and low-carbon economy. Inequality of opportunities present in the eligible regions affects in particular access to education, culture, community, health and social services. The development of a strong local community, bringing together different generations, as well as the integration of vulnerable groups in society without discrimination, can enhance economic opportunities and social progress and ensure a just transition for all. This would help to ensure that people living in regions subject to transition, including those active in the social economy which are crucial to local economic development and the social market economy, have access to high-quality public services and services of general interest, for the purpose of underpinning a socially just transition that leaves no-one behind.
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To protect citizensgroups of people who are the most vulnerable tolikely to require support to achieve the climate transition, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable people as defined in the [ESF+ Regulation], with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities, and achieving gender balance across sectors, as well as providing job-search assistance to jobseekers and their active inclusion into the labour marketactive labour market and skills policies targeted towards future oriented sectors and employment, assistance to those affected by the transition, and personalised job-search assistance to all categories of jobseekers and ensuring equal access to all groups of people without discrimination and their active inclusion into the labour market together with promoting workers’ buyout projects.
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) The Member States and the Commission should ensure that the implementation of the priorities financed by the JTF contributes to the respect and the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU. Evaluations have shown the importance of taking the gender equality objectives into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of operational programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and the principle of equal pay for equal work of equal value, the economic independence of women, education and skills upgrading and the reintegration of female victims of violence into the labour market and into society.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 b (new)
Recital 11 b (new)
(11b) The JTF has an important role to play in mitigating social consequences beyond the economy and should not be a mere business investment instrument. The transition can place demands on the affected regions and the people living there, in particular the most vulnerable. Risks include not only a loss of jobs, but also a loss of local tax income, as well as brain drain and the migration of the workers, leaving behind young and elderly people and possibly entailing the cessation of some services (in particular for coal miners). Investment in social and public infrastructure to ensure a high level of services for the people living in the affected areas and to counterbalance loss of services is therefore a key component to ensuring a socially just transition that leaves no-one behind. The JTF should in particular take measures to prevent recession and to ensure that the local population endorses change and that local community actors as well as the infrastructure with regard to health services, social services and local democracy is improved.
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the JTF should provide support to productive investment in SMEs. Productive investment should be understood as investment in fixed capital or immaterial assets of enterprises in view of producing goods and services thereby contributing to gross-capital formation and employmentto social sustainability. For enterprises other than SMEs, productive investments should only be supported if they are necessary for mitigating job losses resulting from the transition, by creating or protecting a significant number of jobs and they do not lead to or result from relocation. Investments in existing industrial facilities, including those covered by the Union Emissions Trading System, should be allowed if they contribute to the transition to a climate- neutral economy by 2050 and go substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 and if they result in the protection of a significant number of decent and sustainable jobs. Any such investment should be justified accordingly in the relevant territorial just transition plan. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market and cohesion policy, support to undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU and, in particular, support to productive investments by enterprises other than SMEs should be limited to enterprises located in areas designated as assisted areas for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) TFEU. __________________ 14Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possiblerequired to prepare a self- standing JTF programme or to programme JTF resources in one or more dedicated priorities within a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’), the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’) or the Cohesion Fund. In accordance with Article 21a of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], JTF resources should be reinforced with complementary funding from the ERDF and the ESF+, which should be given additional resources for this purpose. The respective amounts transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+ should be consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans.
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective and measurable implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperationtogether with the relevant stakeholders, including social partners, civil society and local actors, and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Planincluding job creation measures, upskilling and reskilling and investments in local social and public infrastructures, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the European Pillar of Social Rights. 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.
Amendment 223 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) In order to ensure the long-term effectiveness and positive impacts of the transition and the JTF, data gathering by the Commission will be required to better forecast skills needed across sectors and industry to adapt to the change required by a new green economy and in particular to provide models for the employment effects of decarbonising scenarios, as well as monitoring through adequate social sustainability indicators.
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The territorial just transition plans should identify the actors and territories most negatively affected, where JTF support should be concentrated and describe specific actions to be undertaken to reach a climate-neutral economy, notably as regards the conversion or closure of facilities involving fossil fuel production or other greenhouse gas intensive activities, as well as a detailed plan on the social and public infrastructure investments, with the involvement of social partners at all stages of the process to input the specific needs to be targeted. Those territories should be precisely defined and correspond to NUTS level 3 regions or should be parts thereof. The plans should detail the challenges and needs of those territories and identify the type of operations needed in a manner that ensures the coherent development of climate-resilient economic activities that are also consistent with the transition to climate-neutrality and the objectives of the European Green Deal. Only investments in accordance with the transition plans should receive financial support from the JTF. The territorial just transition plans should be part of the programmes (supported by the ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund or the JTF, as the case may be) which are national JTF programme which is to be approved by the Commission.
Amendment 245 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to territories facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050, while simultaneously contributing to advance Europe’s social model for present and future generations.
Amendment 252 #
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, labour market, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economy’ and society consistent with the goal of limiting global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees.
Amendment 256 #
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, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Green Deal and access shall be conditional on the acceptance of the EU’s climate objectives.
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 18.7.5 billion in 2018 prices, which may be increased, as the case may benecessary, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act. The funding of the JTF shall not be to the detriment of resources allocated to the other MFF funds.
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Amendment 342 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall support the following investments for the economic transition: (a) investments in socially sustainable SMEs, including start-ups, energy community entities and workers buyout cooperatives, leading to decent and sustainable job creation, economic diversification and reconversion; (b) investments in the creation of socially sustainable businesses in future-oriented sustainable sectors, including through business incubators and consulting services; (d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable renewable energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction and energy efficiency and renewable energy, if demand side measures are clearly shown to be insufficient and when those investments are socially sustainable and lead to the creation or maintenance of quality jobs ; (e) targeted energy efficiency retrofit measures to address energy poverty and poor housing conditions; (h) socially sustainable investments in fostering a non-toxic circular economy, including through prevention, reduction, resource efficiency, reuse, repair and recycling.
Amendment 344 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall support social investments, including those supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, ensuring the participation and accessibility of persons with disabilities, in particular through: (a) microfinance, social enterprise finance and social economy; (b) social and public infrastructure; (c) facilities for education and training, including early childhood education and care, educational facilities, student housing and digital equipment; (d) energy-efficient social housing that can also contribute to tackling energy poverty; (e) health and long-term care, including clinics, hospitals, primary care, home services and community-based care; (f) social innovation, including innovative social solutions and schemes aiming to promote social impacts and outcomes in the areas related thereto; (g) cultural and heritage activities with a social goal allowing for a balance between the respect for tradition and innovation and fostering a sense of community attachment and identity; (h) infrastructure for local communities such as community and volunteer centres, with an intergenerational perspective; (i) innovative health solutions, including health services and new care models.
Amendment 346 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall support the following investments geared towards workers and job seekers: (a) upskilling and reskilling not only of workers but also persons outside the labour market, particularly young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) and long-term unemployed and those with under-exploited or low educational levels, with the aim of overcoming workforce imbalances and bridging the skills gap necessary for the just transition to a green and resource- efficient society; (b) active labour market and skills policies targeted towards future-oriented sectors and sustainable employment as well as job-search assistance to jobseekers, including reskilling and upskilling and/or mediation towards other jobs or industries; (c) income support measures and social protection for workers in transition between work, training, self-employment or retirement with particular focus on in- work poverty and workers at risk of poverty; (d) active inclusion of job seekers; ensuring equal access and gender equality including equal pay for equal work.
Amendment 347 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 d (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. 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 shall be socially and environmentally sustainable.
Amendment 348 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 e (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. The JTF may also support investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (i) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan and shall be socially and environmentally sustainable.
Amendment 363 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) investments in projects that do not respect occupational health and safety standards for workers.
Amendment 386 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, in full compliance with the partnership principle, together with the relevant authorities of the territories concerned and social partners, as well as local communities, 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 economic, labour market 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 396 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) a justification for identifying the territories and sectors 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;
Amendment 402 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) an assessment of the transition challenges faced by the most negatively affected territories and sectors, including the social, economic, and environmental impact of the transition to a climate-neutral economy, identifying the potential number of affected jobs and job losses, the development needs and objectives, to be reached by 2030 linked to the transformation or closure of greenhouse gas-intensive activities in those territories and challenges in terms of energy poverty;
Amendment 412 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) a detailed list of the different partners and stakeholders consulted, including social partners, representing people living in the territory concerned, in particular workers;
Amendment 414 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) a description of the governance mechanisms consisting of the partnership arrangements, the monitoring and evaluation measures planned and the responsible bodies in conformity with the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds (CDR 240/2014);
Amendment 425 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) where support is provided to investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC, an exhaustive list of operations to be supported and a justification that they contribute to a transition to a climate neutral economy and lead to a substantial reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions going substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC and provided that they are necessary for the protection of a significant number of jobs; and are committed to social sustainability;
Amendment 428 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j a (new)
(ja) a clear description of the role expected from public administrations and public agencies to support the implementation of the plans.
Amendment 447 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State and conduct stakeholder’s consultation in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.
Amendment 482 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 1 – Reference: Article 7(2)(b) – point 1.2
Annex II – point 1 – Reference: Article 7(2)(b) – point 1.2
1.2 Identifying the territories, sectors and communities expected to be the most negatively affected and justifying this choice with the corresponding estimation of the economic and employment impacts based the outline of Section 1.1
Amendment 483 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.1 – introductory part
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.1 – introductory part
2.1. Assessment of the economic, social and, territorial and sectoral impact of the transition to a climate-neutral economy
Amendment 484 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.2 – Reference: Article 7(2)(d) – table – indent 2
Annex II – point 2 – point 2.2 – Reference: Article 7(2)(d) – table – indent 2
- Objectives and results expected through implementing the JTF priority, including for the welfare of local communities concerned and for workers, with a particular attention to long-term unemployment, in-work-poverty and persons seeking their first job.
Amendment 486 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.1 – table indent 1
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.1 – table indent 1
- Arrangements for involvement of partners, in conformity with the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds (CDR 240/2014), including NGOs, Trade Unions and other stakeholders, in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the territorial just transition plan;
Amendment 487 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.1 – table indent 2
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.1 – table indent 2
- Outcome of public consultation, in conformity with the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds (CDR 240/2014).
Amendment 488 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.3 – table
Annex II – point 3 – point 3.3 – table
Body or bodies responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the plan and their role, in conformity with the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds (CDR 240/2014).