Activities of Achille VARIATI related to 2023/0079(COD)
Plenary speeches (2)
Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (debate)
Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020
Amendments (33)
Amendment 12 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) The Regulation should prevent and reduce adverse impacts of critical raw materials on the environment and ensure a safe and sustainable critical raw material value chain, taking into account, for instance, their environmental footprint, the ethical sourcing of critical raw materials and security of supply, and facilitating reuse, repair and recycling. It should seek to improve the environmental performance of critical raw materials and of the activities of all economic operators involved in their life cycle. Therefore, the Regulation should contribute to the transition to a circular economy, long- term competitiveness of the Union and the efficient functioning of the internal market, while ensuring a high level of protection of the environment and respect for human and labour rights. This Regulation should also minimise the negative effects of the extraction and processing on human health and the environment and it should aim at reducing the use of critical raw material, and favour the practical application of the waste hierarchy
Amendment 23 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The list of critical raw materials should contain all strategic raw materials as well as any other raw materials of high importance for the overall Union economy and for which there is a high risk of supply disruption. To take account of possible technological and economic changes, the Commission should, in continuation of current practice, periodically perform an assessment based on data for production, trade, applications, recycling, and substitution for a wide range of raw materials to update the lists of critical and strategic raw materials reflecting the evolution in the economic importance and supply risk associated with those raw materials. The list of critical raw materials should include those raw materials which reach or exceed the thresholds for both economic importance and supply risk, without ranking the relevant raw materials in terms of criticality. This assessment should be based on an average of the latest available data over a 5-year-period. The measures set out in this Regulation related to one stop shop for permitting, planning, exploration, monitoring, circularity, and sustainability should apply to all critical raw materials. Measures should be taken to increase the efficient use of critical raw materials in the whole value chain.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In order to diversify the Union's supply of strategic raw materials, the Commission should, with the support of the Board, identify Strategic Projects in third countries that intend to become active in the extraction, processing or recycling of strategic raw materials. To ensure that such Strategic Projects are effectively implemented, they should benefit from improved access to finance. In order to ensure their added value, projects should be assessed against a set of criteria. Like projects in the Union, Strategic Projects in third countries should strengthen the Union's security of supply for strategic raw materials, show sufficient technical feasibility and be implemented sustainably. For projects in emerging markets and developing economies, the project should be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country involved and add value in that country, taking into account also its consistency with the Union’s common commercial policy. Such value may be derived from the project’s contribution to more than one stage of the value chain as well as from creating through the project wider economic and social benefits, including the creation of employment in compliance with international standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Where the Commission assesses these criteria to be fulfilled, it should publish the recognition as a Strategic Project in a decision.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) Cooperation between different levels of governments is essential to ensure effective decision-making. In order to guarantee high environmental standards and that the appropriate procedure is met, the involvement of national competent authories should be ensured when granting the decision on the implementation of Strategic Projects.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41 a (new)
Recital 41 a (new)
(41a) Europe needs to enhance its strategic autonomy and increase its resilience in preparation for potential disruptions in supply due to health or other crises. Enhancing circularity and resource efficiency with increased recycling and recovery of critical raw materials, will contribute to reaching that goal.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48
Recital 48
(48) A precondition for effective magnet recycling is for recyclincreasing the circularity of magnets is for recyclers, repairers and refurbishers to have access to the necessary information on the amount, type and chemical composition of magnets in a product, their location and the coating, glues and additives used, as well as information on how to remove the permanent magnets from the product. In addition, to ensure a business case for magnet recycling, permanent magnets incorporated in products placed on the Union market should, over time, contain an increasing amount of recycled materials. While providing transparency on the recycled content in a first stage, a minimum content of recycled content should be set after a dedicated assessment of the appropriate level and likely impacts.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii
(iii) Union recycling capacity, including for all intermediate recycling steps, is able to produce at least 125% of the Union's annual consumption of strategic raw materials.
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii a (new)
(iiia) By 24 months after entry into force, the Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 36 to establish for each strategic raw material a minimum recycling capacity target for 2030.
Amendment 173 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) foster research, innovation and scalability of substitutes for strategic raw materials with lower environmental and material footprints.
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) The selection of projects should be aligned with the objectives laid down in Article 1 of this Regulation. Priority shall be given to projects in the area of material recovery, recovery from extractive waste and recycling in order to achieve Union´s objectives laid down in Article 1 point 2 point iii:
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) for projects in third countries that are emerging markets or developing economies, the project would be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country concerned by adding value in that country and respecting international labour standards and conventions, and the relevant human rights and environmental standards.
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. The recognition of a project as a Strategic Project shall not affect the requirements applicable to the relevant project or project promoter under international, Union or national law, including national laws of the relevant third country.
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The decision on the implementation of Strategic Projects, and whether or not they meet the conditions laid down in paragraph 2, shall be discussed and agreed in cooperation with national competent authorities.
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4
Article 11 – paragraph 4
4. The time-frame for consulting the public concerned on the environmental impact assessment report referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU shall not be longer than 90 days in the case of Strategic Projects but not shorter than 45 days.
Amendment 358 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 a (new)
Article 12 a (new)
Article12a Critical Raw Material Fund The European Commission shall put in place, no later than March 2024, a new European fund dedicated to supporting up to 10% of the capital investment and operational expenditure requirements for Union projects in the area of refining, processing and material recovery (from recycling) of strategic raw materials defined in Annex I. The fund shall prioritise strategic raw materials projects pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of this Regulation. Funding for projects shall be allocated on a non-discriminatory basis across the Union (or in third countries where relevant), and shall be disbursed by the European Commission directly. The Commission shall work with Member States to secure long term additional revenue for the fund comparable to the volumes required pursuant to the objectives in Article 1 of this Regulation.
Amendment 433 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) increase the collection of waste with high critical raw materials recovery potential and ensure their introduction into the appropriate preparation for re-use and recycling systems, with a view to maximising the lifespan of products and the availability and of high-quality of recyclable material as an input to critical raw material recycling facilities;
Amendment 447 #
(b) increase the re-use and repair of products and components with high critical raw materials recovery potential;
Amendment 450 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) increase the use of secondary critical raw materials in manufacturing and promote the refurbishment of products, including, where appropriate, by taking recycled content and possibility of refurbishment into account in award criteria related to public procurement;
Amendment 455 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) increase the efficient use of critical raw materials in the whole value chain.
Amendment 483 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 25 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
With respect to points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1, the programmes referred to in that paragraph may include, without prejudice to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU, the introduction of financial incentives, such aseconomic instruments, such as those listed in Annex IVa of Directive 2008/98/EC, including discounts, monetary rewards or deposit- refund systems, to encourage the re-use of products with high critical raw materials recovery potential and the collection of waste from such products.
Amendment 559 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
The information referred to in paragraph 4 shall refer to the product model or, where the information differs between units of the same model, to a particular batch or unit. The information referred to in paragraph 4 shall be accessible to recyclers, refurbishers, repairers, market surveillance authorities and customs authorities.
Amendment 611 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 6
Article 29 – paragraph 6
6. Where the Commission identifies deficiencies in a recognised scheme affecting the basis for the recognition, it may grant the scheme owner an appropriate period of time to take remedial action of maximum 12 months.
Amendment 623 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. A company´s membership in a recognised certification scheme shall not exempt it from its obbligations under this Regulation, Union national and International law.
Amendment 630 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1
Article 30 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission is empowered toshall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 36 to supplement this Regulation by establishing rules for the calculation and verification of the environmental footprint of different critical raw materials no later than 31st of December 2025, in accordance with Annex V and taking into account scientifically sound assessment methods and relevant international standards. The calculation and verification rules shall identify which is the most important impact category. The footprint declaration shall be limited to that impact category for different critical raw materials, including but not limited to carbon footprint, impact on biodiversity, waste consumption and waste disposal.
Amendment 639 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 2
Article 30 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission mayshall adopt calculation and verification rules for a specific critical raw material ifonce it has concluded, having considered the various relevant environmental impact categories, that the critical raw material in question has a significant environmental footprint and that therefore an obligation to declare the environmental footprint of that material regarding the most important impact category, when placing it on the market, is necessary and proportionate to contribute to the Union’s climate and environmental objectives by facilitating the supply of critical raw materials with lower environmental footprint.
Amendment 721 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 1 – point a a (new)
Annex III – point 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) whether the project will contribute to the achievement of the Union's 2030 and 2050 climate objectives
Amendment 722 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 1 – point a b (new)
Annex III – point 1 – point a b (new)
(ab) whether the project contributes the objectives and benchmarks as set in the [insert Net Zero Industry Act]
Amendment 738 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i a (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i a (new)
(ia) UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.
Amendment 741 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i b (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i b (new)
(ib) ILO Convention number 169
Amendment 786 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) requirements for ensuring socially responsible practices, including respect for human rights and. labour rights and rights of indigenous peoples;
Amendment 791 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) requirements for ensuring business integrity and transparency including requirements to apply sound management of financial, environmental and social matters and anti-corruption policies in line with the OECD Guidelines outlined in Annex III;
Amendment 813 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) verification and monitoring of compliance includes an on-site audit and the audit reports are made publicly available
Amendment 820 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) grievance mechanisms are put in place in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles;