Activities of Sara MATTHIEU related to 2023/0081(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act)
Amendments (71)
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 114 and 153 (a), (b), (e), (h), and (i) thereof,
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The strategic net-zero technologies manufactured and deployed to reach the Union's climate objectives require a number of key resources including critical raw materials. In the interest of the Union's strategic autonomy, a greater focus on the circularity and long lifespans of these technologies is essential to reduce the risk of a lack of available raw materials for the manufacturing industry, and to reduce the environmental impact as a result of extracting raw materials. Member states should therefore prioritize manufacturing projects aiming to produce technologies with optimal circular design features such as durability, reliability, reusability, upgradability, reparability, resource efficiency, recycled content, the possibility of maintenance, disassembly, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling and recovery of materials, as well as avoiding substances of concern.
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) To fulfil those commitments, the Union must accelerate its pace of transition to clean energwards a renewables-based, circular and resource-efficient economy, notably by increasing energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy sources. This will contribute toshould aim at achieving the EU targets of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan for 2030 of an employment rate of at least 78% and participation in training of at least 60% of adults. It will alsn order for the industrial measures to contribute to ensuring that the green transition is fair and equitable34 ., they should be combined with upward convergence towards high standards of working conditions. By addressing energy poverty with more affordable energy sources, the investments into net-zero technologies should also contribute to the achievement of the EU target of a reduction of at least 15 million in the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion; _________________ 34 Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality, adopted on 16 June 2022 as part of the Fit for 55 package.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The net-zero transformation is already causing huge industrial, economic, and geopolitical shifts across the globe, which will become ever more pronounced as the world advances in its decarbonisation efforts. The road to net zero translates into strong opportunities for the expansion of Union’s net-zero industry and the related jobs, making use of the strength of the Single Market, by promoting investment in technologies in the field of renewable energy technologies , electricity and heat storage technologies, heat pumps, grid technologies, renewable fuels of non- biological origin technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, fusion, small modular reactors and related best-in-class fuels, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies, and energy-system related energy efficiency technologies and their supply chains, allowing for the decarbonisation of our economic sectors, from energy supply to transport, buildings, and industry. A strong net zero industry within the European Union can help significantly in reaching the Union’s climate and energy targets effectively, as well as in supporting other Green Deal objectives, while creating quality jobs and growthensuring decent working conditions for all.
Amendment 38 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to maintain competitiveness and reduce current strategic import dependencies in key net- zero technology products and their supply chains, while avoiding the formation of new ones, the Union needs to continue strengthening its net zero industrial base and become more competitive and innovation friendly. The Union needs to enable the development of manufacturing capacity faster, simpler and in a more predictable way, without compromising on its high environmental and social standards and values.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Member States should submit updated drafts of their 2021-2030 National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) in June 202340 . As emphasised in the Commission’s Guidance to Member States for the update of the 2021-2030 national energy and climate plans41 , the updated plans should describe Member States’ objectives and policies to facilitate the scale-up of manufacturing projects of commercially available energy efficient and low-carbon technologies, equipment and key components within their territory. Those plans should also describe Member States’ objectives and policies to achieve such scale-up through diversification efforts in third countries, and to enable their industries to capture and store CO2 emissions permanently in geological storage sites. In their revised National Energy and Climate Plans Member States should also identify the social challenges expected from the transition to net zero as well as the detailed measures and resources that will be necessary to manage them, to be compiled as just transition plans in cooperation with the social partners. _________________ 40 Member States shall update their national plans for 2021-2030 by June 2023 (draft plans) and June 2024 (final plans). See Article 14 and requirements of Chapter 2 and Annex I of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. 41 Commission Notice on the Guidance to Member States for the update of the 2021- 2030 national energy and climate plans 2022/C 495/02, (OJ C 495, 29.12.2022, p. 24).
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU already allow contracting authorities and entities awarding contracts through public procurement procedures to rely, in addition to price or cost, on additional criteria for identifying the most economically advantageous tender. Such criteria concern for instance the quality of the tender including social, environmental and innovative characteristics. When awarding contracts for net-zero technology through public procurement, contracting authorities and contracting entities should duly assess the tenders’ contribution to sustainability, job quality, and resilience in relation to a series of criteria relating to the tender’s environmental and social sustainability, innovation, system integration and to resilience.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) The weighting of criteria on the sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution of the tender in relation to public procurement procedures is without prejudice to the possibility for contracting authorities and contracting entities to set a higher threshold for the criteria relating to environmental and social sustainability and innovation, in line with Article 41 (3) and Recital 64 of Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council50 , Article 67 (5) of Directive 2014/24/EU and Article 82 (5) of Directive 2014/25/EU. _________________ 50 Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the award of concession contracts (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 1).
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) In order to limit administrative burden resulting from the need to take into account criteria relating to the sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution of the tender, in particular for smaller public buyers and for contracts of lower value which do not have an important impact on the market, the application of the relevant provisions of this Regulation should be deferred for two years for public buyers which are not central purchasing bodies and for contracts of a value below EUR 25 million.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) Households and final consumers are an essential part of the Union’s demand for net-zero technologies final products and public support schemes to incentivize the purchase of such product by households, in particular for vulnerable low- and lower middle-class income households and consumers, are important tools to accelerate the green transition. Under the solar rooftop initiative announced in the EU solar strategy52 , Member States should for instance set-up national programmes to support the massive deployment of rooftop solar energy. In the REPowerEU plan, the Commission called Member States to make full use of supporting measures which encourage switching to heat pumps. Such support schemes set up nationally by Member States or locally by local or regional authorities should also contribute to improving the sustainability, job quality, and resilience of the EU net-zero technologies. Public authorities should for instance provide higher financial compensation to beneficiaries for the purchase of net-zero technology final products that will make a higher contribution to resilience in the Union. Public authorities should ensure that their schemes are open, transparent and non-discriminatory, so that they contribute to increase demand for net- zero technology products in the Union. Public authorities should also limit the additional financial compensation for such products so as not to slow down the deployment of the net-zero technologies in the Union. To increase the efficiency of such schemes Member States should ensure that information is easily accessible both for consumers and for net-zero technology manufacturers on a free website. The use by public authorities of the sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution in schemes targeted at consumers or households should be without prejudice to State aid rules and to WTO rules on Subsidies. _________________ 52 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions : EU Solar Energy Strategy, COM(2022) 221 final, 18.05.2022.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41
Recital 41
(41) Where private investment alone is not sufficient, the effective roll-out of net- zero manufacturing projects may require public support in the form of State aid. Such aid must have an incentive effect and be necessary, appropriate and proportionate. The existing State aid guidelines that have recently undergone an in-depth revision in line with the twin transition objectives provide ample possibilities to support investments for projects in the scope of this Regulation subject to certain conditions. Member States can have an important role in easing access to finance for net-zero technologies manufacturing projects by addressing market failures through targeted State aid support. The Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) adopted on 9 March 2023 aims at ensuring a level playing field within the internal market, targeted to those sectors where a third- country delocalisation risk has been identified, and proportionate in terms of aid amounts. It would enable Member States to put in place measures to support new investments in production facilities in defined, strategic net-zero sectors, including via tax benefits. The permitted aid amount can be modulated with higher aid intensities and aid amount ceilings if the investment is located in assisted areas, in order to contribute to the goal of convergence between Member States and regions. Appropriate conditions are required to verify the concrete risks of diversion of the investment outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and that there is no risk of relocation within the EEA. The access to state aid should be subject to strict social and environmental conditions to ensure that European funding uphold high social and environmental standards and does not incentivise a race to the bottom in such standards, in line with the conditions set up in this Regulation; to mobilise national resources for that purpose, Member States may use a share of the ETS revenues that Member States have to allocate for climate-related purposes.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) A European Sovereignty Fund would provide a structural answer to the investment needs. It will help preserving a European edge on critical and emerging technologies relevant to the green and digital transitions, including net-zero technologies. This structural instrument will build on experience of coordinated multi-country projects under the IPCEIs and seek to enhance all Member States’ access to such projects, thereby safeguarding cohesion and the Single Market against risks caused by unequal availability of State Aids. Any funding coming from the European Sovereignty Fund should be accessible across all Member States, requiring joint funding at European level. Such funding should not come at the expense of existing MFF priorities, but rather constitute fresh funds drawn from the unallocated margins under the MFF ceilings or mobilised through the non-thematic MFF special instruments. The access to this Fund will be subject to strict social and environmental conditions to ensure that European funding uphold high social and environmental standards and does not incentivise a race to the bottom in such standards, in line with the conditions set up in this Regulation.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 49
Recital 49
(49) In order for net-zero technology manufacturing projects to be deployed or expanded as quickly as possible to ensure the Union’s security of supply for net-zero technologies, it is important to create planning and investment certainty by keeping the administrative burden on project promoters to a minimum, without compromising on the high environmental and social standards and values of the Union. For that reason, permit-granting processes of the Member States for net zero technology manufacturing projects should be streamlined, whilst at the same time ensuring that such projects are safe, secure, environmentally performant, and comply with environmental, social and safety requirements. Union environmental legislation sets common conditions for the process and content of national permit- granting processes, thereby ensuring a high level of environmental protection. Being granted the status of Net-Zero Strategic Project should be without prejudice to any applicable permitting conditions for the relevant projects, including those set out in Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council58 , Council Directive 92/43/EEC59 , Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council60 , Directive 2004/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council61 , and Directive (EU) 2010/75 of the European Parliament and of the Council62 . _________________ 58 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1). 59 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). 60 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1). 61 Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage (OJ L 143, 30.4.2004, p. 56). 62 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (recast) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17).
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 51
Recital 51
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) In order to reduce complexity and increase efficiency and transparency, project promoters of net-zero technologies manufacturing projects should be able to interact with a single national authority responsible for coordinating the entire permit granting process and issuing a comprehensive decision within the applicable time limit. To that end, Member States should designate a single national competent authority. Depending on a Member State’s internal organisation, it should be possible for the tasks of the national competent authority s to be delegated to a different authority, subject to the same conditions. T, public accountability, and oversight. In order to guarantee the high level of scrutiny along the permitting process, and to ensure the effective implementation of their responsibilities, Member States should provide their national competent authority, or any authority acting on their behalf, with sufficient personnel and resources.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 64
Recital 64
(64) The scaling up of European net- zero technology industries requires significant additional skilled workers which implies important investment needs in re-skilling and upskilling, including in the field of vocational education and training. This should contribute to the creation of quality jobs in line with the targets for employment and training of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The energy transition will require a significant increase in the number of skilled workers in a range of sectors, including renewable energy and energy storage, and has a great potential for quality job creation. The skill needs for the fuel cell hydrogen sub-sector in manufacturing alone are estimated at 180.000 trained workers, technicians and engineers by the year 2030, according to the Commission’s European Strategic Energy Technology Plan65 . In the photo- voltaic solar energy sector, up to 66.000 jobs would be needed in manufacturing alone. The circular economy will contribute to the creation of around 700,000 jobs in the EU alone by 2030. For the same volume of waste, circular activities such as recycling generate over 50 times as many jobs as landfills and incineration, while repair creates more than 200. The European network of employment services (EURES) is providing information, advice and recruitment or placement for the benefit of workers and employers, including across internal market borders. _________________ 65 European Commission, Directorate- General for Research and Innovation, Joint Research Centre, The strategic energy technology (SET) plan, Publications Office, 2019, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/04888.
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 65
Recital 65
(65) Since strengthening the manufacturing capacity of key net-zero technologies in the Union will not be possible without a sizeable skilled workforce, it is necessary to introduce measures to boost the activintegration of more people to the labour market, notably women and young peopl, as the gender balance in these sectors is far from being reached, and young people, including those not in employment, education or training (NEETs), including via skills first approaches as a complement to qualifications-based recruitment. In addition, in line with the objectives of the Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate-neutrality, specific support for job-to-job transition for workers in redundant and declining sectors are important and with a view to favour lifelong learning and training. An EU Directive on life-long learning is the right instrument to integrate common life-long learning provisions across the Union, complemented by collective agreements negotiated at sectoral level. This means investing in skills for all, and in quality job creation required for net-zero technologies in the Union. Building on and fully taking into account existing initiatives such as the EU Pact for Skills, EU level activities on skills intelligence and forecasting, such as by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and the European Labour Authority, and the Blueprints for sectoral cooperation on skills, the objective is to mobilise all actors: Member States authorities, including at regional and local levels, education and training providers, social partners and industry, in particular SMEs, to identify skills needs, develop education and training programmes and deploy these at large scale in a fast and operational manner. Net-zero strategic projects have a key role to play in this regard. Member States and the Commission may ensure financial support including by leveraging the possibilities of the Union budget through instruments such as the European Social Fund Plus, Just Transition Fund, European Regional Development Funds, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Modernisation Fund, REPowerEU and the Single Market Programme.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 66
Recital 66
(66) Building on previous experiences, such as the EU Pact for Skills and the European Battery Alliance, European Net- Zero Industry Academies should develop and deploy education and training content to upskill and reskill workers required for key net-zero technology value chains, such as solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies, renewable hydrogen technologies and raw materials. The academies would aim to enable the training and education of at least 100.000 learners each, within three years of their establishment, to contribute to the availability of skills required for the net- zero technologies, including in small and medium-sized enterprises. The academies should target workers employed in declining sectors and people in unemployment as a priority. That content should be developed and deployed with education and training providers in Member States, relevant Member States authorities and, social partners, and the civil society. Education and training providers, industry and other actors involved in up- and reskilling in the Member States, such as Public Employment Services, should deliver the content produced by the academies. To ensure skills transparency and portability and the mobility of workers, the European Net-Zero Industry Academies will develop and deploy credentials, including micro- credentials, covering learning achievements. They should be issued in the format of European credentials for learning and could be integrated in EUROPASS and, where relevant, included in National Qualifications Frameworks. Member States are encouraged to support the continuous reskilling and upskilling offered via the academies and the relevant education and training providers in their territories through national programmes and Union funding, including from the European Social Fund Plus, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the European Regional Development Fund, the Just Transition Mechanism, the Modernisation Fund and the Technical Support Instrument. The Net-Zero Europe Platform should assist in guiding the work of the Academies and providing oversight.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 69
Recital 69
(69) At Union level, a Net-Zero Europe Platform, should be established, composed of the Member States and chaired by the Commission. The European Parliament should be invited to participate in the meetings of the Platform on a systematic basis. The Net-Zero Europe Platform may advise and assist the Commission and Member States on specific questions and provide a reference body, in which the Commission and Member States coordinate their action and facilitate the exchange of information on issues relating to this Regulation. The Net- Zero Europe Platform should further perform the tasks outlined in the different Articles of this Regulation, notably in relation to permitting, including one-stop shops, Net- Zero Strategic Projects, coordination of financing, access to markets and skills as well as innovative net-zero technologies regulatory sandboxes. Where necessary, the Platform may establish standing or temporary subgroups and invite third parties, such as experts, social partners, civil society organisations, or representatives from net-zero industries.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 70
Recital 70
(70) As part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan the Commission announced its intention to conclude Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships covering net-zero technologies, to adopt net-zero technologies globally and to support the role of EU industrial capabilities in paving the way for the global clean energy transition. The Commission and Member States mayshould coordinate within the Platform the Partnerships, discussing existing relevant partnerships and processes, such as green partnerships, energy dialogues and other forms of existing bilateral contractual arrangements, as well as potential synergies with relevant Member States’ bilateral agreements with third countries.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
ba) economic operators involved in the manufacturing of strategic net-zero technologies provide quality jobs.
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
(sa) “quality job” means a job providing decent wages, ensuring work security via standard employment contract and access to social protection, giving access to good quality lifelong learning opportunities, securing good working conditions in safe and healthy workplaces, including a reasonable working time with good work-life balance, while ensuring trade union representation and bargaining rights.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall provide the following information on administrative processes relevant to net-zero technology manufacturing projects, including net zero strategic projects, online and in a centralised, free, and easily accessible manner:
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the permit-granting process and selection criteria;
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) funding possibilities at Union orand Member State level;
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Where competent authorities consider that the proposed project raises exceptional risks for the health and safety of workers or of the general population, and where additional time is necessary to establish that adequate safeguards are put in place, they may extend those time limits by a further 612 months, before their expiry and on a case-by-case basis.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. All decisions taken by national authorities shall be made publicly available on a free and easily accessible website.
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. When preparing plans, including zoning, spatial plans and land use plans, national, regional and local authorities, in cooperation with social partners and civil society organisations in the respective territory, shall, where appropriate, include in those plans provisions for the development of net-zero technology manufacturing projects, including net-zero strategic projects. Priority shall be given to artificial and built surfaces, industrial sites, brownfield sites, and, where appropriate, greenfield sites not usable for agriculture and forestry.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall recognise as net-zero strategic projects net-zero technology manufacturing projects corresponding to a technology listed in the Annex and located in the Union that contributes to the realisation of the objectives set out in Article 1 of this Regulation and meet at least one of the following criteria:
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – introductory part
(b) the net-zero technology manufacturing project has positive impact on the Union’s net-zero industry supply chain or downstream sectors, beyond the project promoter and the Member States concerned, contributing to the competitiveness and quality job creation of the Union’s net- zero industry supply chain, according to at least three of the following criteria:
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) it manufactures technologies with improved environmental sustainability and circularity features, in particular with regard to reuse and recycling considerations, and improved performance;
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall recognise as net-zero strategic projects, net-zero technology technology manufacturing projects that have a positive impact on quality job creation, according to the following mandatory criteria: (a) respect collective agreements and workers’ right to organise and collective bargain along with rights to information and consultation, also on merger and investment decisions (b) avoid redundancies and a deterioration of working conditions; (c) increase the share of profit that is reinvested and shared equitably with workers and does not pay our extraordinary dividends while the project is financed through any form of public funding; (d) workers covered by a collective agreement negotiated with trade unions; (e) put into place measures to attract, retain, upskill or reskill a workforce and especially women and young people, through training and lifelong learning including through apprenticeships, in close cooperation with social partners and civil society; (d) not less than 5% of the total hours of the project, including work performed by any contractor or subcontractor, performed by apprentices, paid at least 80% of the national minimum wage.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) a business plan evaluating the financial viability of the project consistent withwith no prejudice to the objective of creating and ensuring quality jobs.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) the potential of creation of direct quality jobs expected from the project, and the corresponding hiring, training, reskilling and upskilling plan to ensure the successful implementation of the project, and the specific measures planned for the promotion of gender equality.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. In order to prevent fragmentation of the Single Market, support mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article shall also be made available from the EU Sovereignty Fund. The Commission shall draw on resources from the EU Sovereignty Fund with a special focus on facilitating investments in net-zero strategic projects, working in close cooperation with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency to ensure the highest ecological and social standards possible. The amount of the financial envelope shall be drawn from the unallocated margins under the MFF ceilings or mobilised through the non- thematic MFF special instruments.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. The support referred to in paragraph 1 and 1a shall be conditional on stringent environmental and social commitments taken by the relevant project promoters, including in the form of decarbonisation plans, labour reskilling plans, commitment to effective social dialogue and collectively negotiated wages, high quality apprenticeships and decent working conditions, in line with the conditions set in article 10 of this Regulation.
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) assistance to project promoters to further increase the public acceptance ofparticipation and consultation of the stakeholders concerned by the project.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission and Member States shall promote the adoption by companies of just transition plans ensuring that that companies’ operations and value chains are compatible with net- zero targets. Such plans shall specify the accompanying social measures aimed at promoting employment and quality jobs, including addressing strategic jobs and skills planning and related training policies.
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – title
Article 19 – title
19 Sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution in public procurement procedures
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. Contracting authorities or contracting entities shall base the award of contracts for net-zero technology listed in the Annex in a public procurement procedure on the most economically advantageous tender, which shall includebe based on the best price-quality ratio, comprising at least the sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution of the tender, in compliance with Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU, or 2014/25/EU and applicable sectoral legislation, as well as with the Union’s international commitments, including the GPA and other international agreements by which the Union is bound.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The tender’s sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution shall be based on the following cumulative criteria which shall be cumulative, objective, transparent and non- discriminatory:
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) social sustainability, including mechanisms to incentivise quality apprenticeships, measures to improve diversity at work such as implemented gender and diversity plans, skilling, reskilling and upskilling plans, working conditions and standards, the respect of collective agreements and trade unions' right to negotiate;
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3
Article 19 – paragraph 3
3. Contracting authorities and contracting entities shall give the tender’s sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution a weight between 15% and 3of at least 50% of the award criteria, without prejudice of the application of Article 41 (3) of Directive 2014/23/EU, Article 67 (5) of Directive 2014/24/EU or Article 82 (5) of Directive 2014/25/EU for giving a higher weighting to the criteria referred to in paragraph 2, points (a), (aa) and (b).
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Article 19 – paragraph 4
4. The contracting authority or the contracting entity shall not be obliged to apply the considerations relating to the sustainability and resilience contribution of net-zero technologies where their application would oblige that authority or entity to acquire equipment having disproportionate costs, or technical characteristics different from those of existing equipment, resulting in incompatibility, technical difficulties in operation and maintenance. Such exeption does not apply to social sustainability criteria. Cost differences above 130% may be presumed by contracting authorities and contracting entities to be disproportionate.This provision shall be without prejudice of the possibility to exclude abnormally low tenders under Article 69 of Directive 2014/24/EU and Article 84 of Directive 2014/25/EU, and without prejudice to other contract award criteria according to the EU legislation, including social aspects according to Articles 30 (3) and 36 (1), second intent of Directive 2014/23/EU, Articles 18 (2) and 67 (2) of Directive 2014/24/EU and Articles 36 (2) and 82 (2) of Directive 2014/24/EU.
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. When cost differences are below 10%, the contracting authority or the contracting entity shall award the contract to the tender exhibiting the highest sustainability and job quality contribution.
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. Without prejudice to Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and Articles 107 and 108 the Treaty, and to the Union’s international commitments including the GPA and other international agreements by which the Union is bound, Member States, regional or local authorities, bodies governed by public law or associations formed by one or more such authorities or one or more such bodies governed by public law, shall assess the sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution as referred to in Article 19(2) of this Regulation when designing the criteria used for ranking bids in the framework of auctions, the aim of which is to support the production or consumption of energy from renewable sources as defined in Article 2, point (1) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 2
2. The sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution shall be given a weight between 15% and 3of at least 50% of the award criteria, without prejudice of the possibility to give a higher weighting to the criteria in Article 19(2), points (a), (aa) and (b), where applicable under Union legislation, and of any limit for non-price criteria set under State aid rules.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 3
Article 20 – paragraph 3
3. The Member States, regional or local authorities, bodies governed by public law or associations formed by one or more such authorities or one or more such bodies governed by public law shall not be obliged to apply the considerations relating to the sustainability and resilience contribution of net-zero technologies where their application would oblige those entities to acquire equipment having disproportionate costs, or technical characteristics different from those of existing equipment, resulting in incompatibility, technical difficulties in operation and maintenance. Cost differences above 130% may be presumed by contracting authorities and contracting entities to be disproportionate. Such exception does not apply to social sustainability criteria.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 20 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. When cost differences are below 10%, the contracting authority or the contracting entity shall award the contract to the tender exhibiting the highest sustainability and job quality contribution.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. Without prejudice to Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty and Article 4 of Directive 2018/200173 and in line with the Union’s international commitments, when deciding to set up schemes benefitting households or consumers which incentivise the purchase of net-zero technology final products listed in the Annex, Member States, regional or local authorities, bodies governed by public law or associations formed by one or more such authorities or one or more such bodies governed by public law, shall design them in such a way as to promote the purchase by beneficiaries of net-zero technology final products with a high sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution as referred in Article 19(2), by providing additional proportionate financial compensation. _________________ 73 Directive 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The additional financial compensation granted by authorities in accordance with paragraph 1, due to the application of the criteria referred to in Article 19(2) (b) (c) and (d) shall not exceed 5 30% of the cost of the net-zero technology final product for the consumer. The additional financial compensation for households or consumers shall be specifically addressed at consumers in energy poverty or at risk of energy poverty, as defined per regulation (EU) 2023/9551a. _________________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2023/955 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 establishing a Social Climate Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, OJ L 130, 16.5.2023, p. 1–51.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. Where relevant, the Commission shall provide guidance on the criteria to assess the resilience, job quality, and sustainability contribution of available products covered by the forms of public intervention covered under articles 19, 20 and 21.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 3
Article 22 – paragraph 3
3. The Net-Zero Europe Platform shall discuss measures carried out by Member States to implement Articles 19 and 21 and exchange best practices, inter alia, as concerns the practical use of criteria defining the sustainability, job quality, and resilience contribution in public procurement, or schemes incentivising the purchase of net-zero technology final products.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Commission shall support, including through the provision of seed- funding, the establishment of European Net Zero Industry Academies, which have as their objectives to:
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) include in the learning programmes elements of workers’ rights awareness, including applicable law on wages and remunerations, existing collective agreements and active trade union organisations, risk for health and safety at work and applicable preventive legislation, and judicial or administrative procedures to access in case of violation of workers’ rights;
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) develop and deploy credentials, including micro-credentials, to facilitate the transparency of skills acquired and enhance the transferability between jobs and the cross-border mobility of the workforce, and to promote matching with relevant jobs through tools such as the European Employment Services (EURES) network and EURAXESS.; encourage lifelong learning and upskilling or reskilling, including through apprenticeships and long duration training programmes;
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. European Net Zero Industry Academies shall counter gender stereotypes and pay particular attention to the need to activateintegrate in the labour market more women and young people, including the ones who are not in education, employment or training for the labour market. The Academies shall promote diversity and inclusivity of people with disability, migrants, and marginalised people.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. European Net Zero Industry Academies shall work in close cooperation with the social partners, relevant civil society organisations. They shall also work in cooperation with social enterprises as providers of Vocational, Education and Training to jobseekers and other disadvantaged groups, via work- based and inclusive training.
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Member State shall increase the funding dedicated to education, training and learning institutions in areas linked to the skills needs identified by the Net Zero Academies. The European Sovereignty Fund shall contribute to the increased investment in such areas.
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point 1
(1) assist the Commission in assessing, continuously monitoring and forecasting the demand and supply of a workforce with the skill sets needed in net-zero technologies and the availability and uptake of corresponding education and training opportunities, informing as appropriate the activities of the European Net-Zero Industry Academies; the forecast shall include a mapping of existing jobs and skills in all the relevant sectors at NUTS 3 level, a clear forecast on the number of jobs that are going to disappear, be created, and change by the transition to net zero, and an assessment of the potential risks on working conditions;
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) promote adequate working conditions in jobs in net-zero technology industries, the activintegration of youth, women and senior, seniors and third-country nationals to the labour market for net- zero technology industries, and the attraction of skilled workers from third countries, and thereby achieve a more diverse workforce;
Amendment 186 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Member States shall recognise the right to training of workers, to be exercised through paid education leave during working hours.
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 4
Article 26 – paragraph 4
4. Where relevant to achieve the objective of this article, the competent authorities shall consider granting derogations or exemptions to the extent allowed by the relevant Union or national law. The competent authorities shall ensure that the sandbox plan ensures respect for the key objectives and essential requirements of the EU and national legislation. Competent authorities shall make sure that any significant risks to health, safety or the environment identified during the development and testing of innovative net-zero technologies is publicly communicated and results in immediate suspension of the development and testing process until such risk is mitigated. Where competent authorities consider that the proposed project raises exceptional risks for the health and safety of workers, of the general population, or of the environment, in particular because it relates to testing, development or validation involving particularly toxic substances, they shall onlynot approve the sandbox plan once they are satisfied that adequate safeguards have been put in place commensurate with the exceptional risk identified.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 7
Article 29 – paragraph 7
7. The Platform shall systematically invite representatives of the European Parliament to attend, as observers, its meetings, including of the standing or temporary sub- groups referred to in paragraph 6.
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 8
Article 29 – paragraph 8
8. Where appropriate, the Platform or the Commission may invite experts, social partners, civil society organisations, and other third parties to Platform and sub- group meetings or to provide written contributions. In this case the platform should work towards an equal representation of academia, business, trade unions and civil society organisations.
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 30 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
(fa) the compliance of the tenders with the conditions outlined in article 19;
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
(ha) the deployment of the academies’ learning programmes with the number of learners benefiting from the academies’ programmes disaggregated by industrial sectors, gender, age and levels of qualification.