Activities of Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP related to 2020/0006(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund
Amendments (18)
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fairinclusive and socially acceptable for all. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States, together with regional and local actors, 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 44 #
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 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, sustainability 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 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) As the extraction activities for solid fossil fuels are generally located in rural areas, the financing of the diversification of the local economy should prioritise support to rural development and agro-ecological activities in light of their essential role in tackling climate change, protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity.
Amendment 69 #
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 includprioritise those that support people, communities and local economies and are sustainable in the medium- and long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate- neutral and circular economy by 2050 at the latest. 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. For farming sectors and regions with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should focus on assisting farmers to strategically reorient and diversify their activities and income and to promote the use of sustainable practices, complementing the support received from the common agricultural policy. 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 which maximise community benefits, as well as those enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures enhance the creation of green and sustainable jobs, help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy by 2050 at the latest. _________________ 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 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12 a) In order to enhance the transition process from extraction activities for solid fossil fuels in rural areas, the JTF should also include support to farmers and small rural businesses.
Amendment 102 #
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 economy. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperationtogether with the relevant stakeholders, including civil society and local communities concerned, and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans. 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 147 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) productive and sustainable investments in SMEs, including start-ups, leading to economic diversification and reconversion;
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investments in the creation of new firms relevant for the transition to sustainable development, including through business incubators and consulting services;
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) investments in sustainable research and innovation activities and fostering the transfer of advanced technologies;
Amendment 164 #
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 clean, safe and sustainable energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy;
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing projects, prioritising those focused on agricultural and forestry activities based on the concept of agro- ecology and sustainability;
Amendment 191 #
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 in the green transition, including in the field of agro-ecology;
Amendment 209 #
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, shall be sustainable and shall not increase or maintain dependency on fossil fuels, nor lead to the unsustainable use of biomass or any use of food crops for energy generation purposes.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
The JTF may also support investments addressed to farmers and small rural businesses focused on sustainable agricultural and forestry activities.
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(a a) when affecting agricultural activities, a description of the transition process and timeline to reduce GHG emissions from agriculture, that is coherent with the NECPs and the CAP strategic plans. The description shall place particular emphasis on the strategic actions needed to minimise the impact of the transition on the incomes of farmers who significantly change their practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase long-term carbon sequestration;
Amendment 257 #
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, 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 orf energy and carbon intensive industry and agriculture consistent with achieving climate neutrality in line with an objective of limiting increase in global temperature to 1,5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, with the transition away from fossil fuel use and the closure of greenhouse gas- intensive activities in those territories;
Amendment 258 #
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, 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, as well as an assessment of negative spillover effects of transition on adjacent regions;
Amendment 265 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Territorial just transition plans shall strengthen local economies and short economic routes and supply chains.