20 Amendments of Vincenzo SOFO related to 2020/0100(COD)
Amendment 5 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal on 11 December 20199 , drawing its roadmap towards an allegedly new growth policy for Europe and setting ambitious objectives to counter climate change and for environmental protection. In line with the objective to achieve climate neutrality in the Union by 2050 in an effective and fair manner, the European Green Deal announced a Just Transition Mechanism to provide means for facing the climate challengetransition towards a climate-neutral economy while leaving no one behind. The most vulnerable regions and people are the most exposed to the harmful effects of climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, managing the transition requires significant structural changes. _________________ 9 COM(2019) 640 final.
Amendment 12 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The proposal for establishing the Just Transition Fund was adopted by the Commission on 14 January 202011 . For the better programming and implementation of the Fund, territorial just transition plans are to be adopted, setting out the key steps and timeline of the transition process and identifying the territories most negatively affected by the transition towards a climate neutral economy and with less capacity to deal with the transition challendamages. _________________ 11 COM(2020) 22 final
Amendment 20 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challendamages described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism.
Amendment 21 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a climate neutral economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, green mobility, smart waste and water management, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, land restoration and decontamination, as well as up- and re- skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand disasters. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities may be used.
Amendment 26 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a climate neutral economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, green mobility, smalocal public transport, waste management, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, land restoration and decontamination, as well as up- and re- skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand disasters. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challendamages resulting from the adjustment to climathe transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities may be used towards a climate-neutral economy.
Amendment 26 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In accordance with the Financial Regulation and Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulations (Euratom, EC) No 2988/95, (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 and (EU) 2017/1939, the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities, including fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used, and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative penalties. In particular, in accordance with Regulations (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 and (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute offences against the financial interests of the Union, as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council. In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the financial interests of the Union, grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, and OLAF, the EPPO in respect of those Member States participating in enhanced cooperation pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, and the European Court of Auditors (ECA), and ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights.
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework for the grant component of this Facility until 31 December 2024, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to set out the available national allocations expressed as shares of the overall financial envelope of the Facility for each Member State in accordance with the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [the JTF Regulation]. The implementing powers should be conferred without comitology procedures given that the shares derive directly from the application of a pre- defined calculation methodology.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The objective of this Regulation, namely to leverage public investment in territories, most impacted by the transition towards climate neutrality by addressing the corresponding development needs, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone. The main reasons in this regard are the difficulties for public entities to support investments, which do not generate sufficient streams of own revenues and benefit the territories most negatively impacted by climathe transition, without EU grant support towards a climate-neutral economy, due to the Union's restrictive economic and budgetary policies and the need for a coherent implementation framework under direct management. Since those objectives can be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective,
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental and economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union bystarting from 2050.
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental and economic challendamages deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Facility is to address serious socio- economic challendamages deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy for the benefit of the Union territories identified in the territorial just transition plans prepared by the Member States in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation].
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic or environmental challendamages deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy and benefit territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17
Article 17
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.1
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.1
6.1 Transport infrastructure
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.3
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.3
6.3 Public utilities (water, wastewater, district heating, energy, waste management, local transport)
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 a (new)
Annex II – point 6 a (new)
6 a. Number of net jobs created
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 7
Annex II – point 7
7. GPolluting and greenhouse gas emission reduced