Activities of Denis NESCI related to 2023/0199(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) (debate)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 2 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The EU industry has proven its inbuilt resilience but is being challenged. High inflation, labour shortages, post- COVID supply chains disruptions, rising interest rates, and spikes in energy costs and input prices are weighing on the competitiveness of the EU industry. This is paired with strong, but not always fair, competition on the fragmented global market. The EU has already put forward several initiatives to support its industry, such as the Green Deal Industrial Plan,40 the Critical Raw Materials Act41 , the Net Zero Industry Act42 , the new Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework for State aid,43 Next Generation EU and REPowerEU.44 While these solutions provide fast and, targeted and, in some cases, temporary support, the EU needs a more structural answer to the investment needs of its industries, safeguarding cohesion and the level playing field in the Single Market and to reduce the EU’s strategic dependencies. _________________ 40 Communication on A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age, COM(2023) 62 final. 41 COM(2023) 160 final 42 COM(2023) 161 final 43 Communication on a Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework for State Aid measures (OJ C 101, 17.3.2023, p. 3). 44 Regulation (EU) 2023/435 as regards REPowerEU (OJ L 63, 28.2.2023, p. 1).
Amendment 11 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) There is a need to support critical technologies in the following fields: deep and digital technologies, clean technologies, and biotechnologies (including the respective critical raw materials value chains), in particular projects, companies and sectors with a critical role for EU’s competitiveness and resilience and its value chains; the entire CCS value chain; research projects and preliminary studies/analysis to support the development of innovative technologies. By way of example, deep technologies and digital technologies should include microelectronics, high-performance computing, quantum technologies (i.e., computing, communication and sensing technologies), cloud computing, edge computing, and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity technologies, robotics, 5G and advanced connectivity and virtual realities, including actions related to deep and digital technologies for the development of defence and aerospace applications. Clean technologies should include, among others, renewable energy; electricity and heat storage; heat pumps; electricity grid; renewable fuels of non- biological origin; sustainable alternative fuels; electrolysers and fuel cells; carbon capture, utilisation and storage; energy efficiency; hydrogen and its related infrastructure; smart energy solutions; technologies vital to sustainability such as water purification and desalination; advanced materials such as nanomaterials, composites and future clean construction materials, and technologies for the sustainable extraction and processing of critical raw materials. Biotechnology should be considered to include technologies such as biomolecules and its applications, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies vital for health security, crop biotechnology, and industrial biotechnology, such as for waste disposal, and biomanufacturing. The Commission may issue guidance to further specify the scope of the technologies in these three fields considered to be critical in accordance with this Regulation, in order to promote a common interpretation of the projects, companies and sectors to be supported under the respective programmes in light of the common strategic objective. Moreover, technologies in any of these three fields which are subjects of an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b) TFEU should be deemed to be critical, and individual projects within the scope of such an IPCEI should be eligible for funding, in accordance with the respective programme rulthrough dedicated EU resources, to the extent that the identified funding gap and the eligible costs have not yet been completely covered.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Strengthening the manufacturing capacity of key technologies in the Union will not be possible without a sizeable skilled workforce including with digital skills, engineering and other technical skills . However, labour and skills shortages have increased in all sectors including those considered key for the green and digital transition (including, coordination and planning skills for more complex projects) and endanger the rise of key technologies, also in the context of demographic change. Therefore, it is necessary to boost the activation of more people to the labour market relevant for strategic sectors, in particular through the creation of jobs and apprenticeships for young, disadvantaged persons, in particular, young people not in employment, education or training. Such support will complement a number of other actions aimed at meeting the skills needs stemming from the transition, outlined in the EU Skills Agenda.45 _________________ 45 Communication on a European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, COM(2020) 274 final.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) To that end, it should be possible to rely on assessments made for the purposes of other Union programmes in accordance with Articles 126 and 127 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046,52 in order to reduce administrative burden for beneficiaries of Union funds and encourage investment in priority technologies. Provided they comply with the provisions of the RRF Regulation,53 Member States should consider including actions awarded the Sovereignty Seal when preparvising their recovery and resilience plans and when proposing their Recovering and Resilience Plans and when deciding on investment projects to be financed from its share of the Modernisation Fund. The Sovereignty Seal should also be taken into account by the Commission in the context of the procedure provided for in Article 19 of the EIB Statute and of the policy check laid down in Article 23 of the InvestEU Regulation. In addition, the implementing partners should be required to examine projects having been awarded the Sovereignty Seal in case they fall within their geographic and activity scope in accordance with Article 26(5) of that Regulation. Authorities in charge of programmes falling under STEP should also be encouraged to consider support for strategic projects identified in accordance with the Net Zero Industry and the Critical Raw Materials Acts that are within the scope of Article 2 of the Regulation and for which rules on cumulative funding may apply. _________________ 52 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1). 53 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17).
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) A new publicly available website (the ‘Sovereignty Portal’) should be set up by the Commission to provide information on available support to companies, including SMEs, and project promoters seeking funds for STEP investments. To that end, it should display in an accessible and user-friendly manner the funding opportunities for STEP investments available under the EU budget. This should include information about directly managed programmes, such as Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe programme, the EU4Health programme, and the Innovation Fund, and also other programmes such as InvestEU, the RRF, and cohesion policy funds. Moreover, the Sovereignty Portal should help increase the visibility for STEP investments towards investors, by listing the projects that have been awarded a Sovereignty Seal. The Portal should also list the national competent authorities responsible for acting as contact points for the implementation of the STEP at national level.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) While the STEP relies on the reprogramming and reinforcement of existing programmes for supporting strategic investments, it is also an important element for testing the feasibility and preparation of new interventions as a step towards critical test towards the establishment of a European Sovereignty Fund. TAt the latest with the evaluation in 2025 will assess the relevance of the actions undertaken anwill be assessed and the evaluation could serve as basis for assessing the need for an upscaling of the support towards strategic sectors.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Directive 2003/87/EC54 should be amended to allow for additional financing with a financial envelope for the period 2024-2027 of EUR 5 billion. The Innovation Fund supports investments in innovative low-carbon technologies, which is a scope that is to be covered by the STEP. The increase in volume of the Innovation Fund should therefore allow to provide financing responding to the objective of supporting the development or manufacturing in the Union of critical clean technologies. In line with the objectives of ensuring cohesion and promoting the Single Market, and in order to support the green transition and the development of clean technologies throughout the Union, the additional financial envelope should be made available through calls for proposals open to entities from Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017. In addition, the additional financial envelope should be made available also to support entities participating in the IPCEIs in critical clean technologies. _________________ 54 Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to extend support possibilities for investments aimed at strengthening industrial development and reinforcement of value chains in strategic sectors, the scope of support from the ERDF should be extended by providing for new specific objectives under the ERDF, without prejudice to the rules on eligibility of expenditure and climate spending as set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/106055 and Regulation (EU) 2021/105856 . In strategic sectors, it should also be possible to support productive investments in enterprises other than SMEs, which can make a significant contribution to the development of less developed and transition regions, as well as in more developed regions of Member States with a GDP per capita below the EU average. Managing authorities are encouraged to promote the collaboration and partnerships between large enterprises and in particular local SMEs, supply chains, innovation and technology ecosystems. This would allow reinforcing Europe’s overall capacity to strengthen its position in those sectors through providing access to all Member States for such investments, thus counteracting the risk of increasing disparities. _________________ 55 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 laying down common provisions (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159). 56 Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund (OJ L 224, 24.6.2021, p. 31).
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) The regulatory framework for the implementation of the 2014-2020 programmes has been adapted over the past years to provide Member States and regions with additional with additional flexibility in terms of implementation rules and more liquidity to tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war or aggression against Ukraine. These measures, introduced at the end of the programming period, require sufficient time and administrative resources to be fully exploited and implemented; also at a time where Member States will focus resources on revising the 2021-2027 operational programmes linked to the STEP objectives. With a view to alleviate the administrative burden on programme authorities and to prevent possible loss of funds at closure for purely administrative reasons, the deadlines for the administrative closure of the programmes under the 2014-2020 period should be extended in Regulation (EU) No 1303/201361 and Regulation (EU) No 223/201462 . More specifically, the deadline for the submission of that final payment application should be extended by 12 months. Furthermore, the deadline for the submission of the closure documents should also be extended by 12 months. In the context of this amendment, it is appropriate to clarify that distribution of food and material bought until the end of the eligibility period (end-2023) may continue after that date. In order to ensure a sound implementation of the EU budget and respect for the payment ceilings, payments to be made in 2025 should be capped at 1 % of the financial appropriations from resources under the Multiannual Financial Framework per programme. Amounts due exceeding the ceiling of 1% of programme appropriations per fund for 2025 would not be paid in 2025 nor in subsequent years but only used for the clearance of pre-financingshould be paid within the framework of the payment of the final balance according to the article 141. Unused amounts shall be decommitted in accordance with the general rules for decommitment at closure. _________________ 61 Regulation (EU) 1303/2013 laying down common provisions (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 320). 62 Regulation (EU) 223/2014 on the Fund for European Aid on the Most Deprived (OJ L 72, 12.3.2014, p. 1).
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) InvestEU is the EU flagship programme to boost investment, especially the green and digital transition, by providing demand-driven financing, including through blending mechanisms, and technical assistance. Such approach contributes to crowd in additional public and private capital. Given the high market demand of InvestEU guarantee, the EU compartment of InvestEU should be reinforced to correspond to the objectives of the STEP. This will, among other things, reinforce InvestEU’s existing possibility to invest in projects forming part of an IPCEI, within the identified critical technology sectors. In addition, Member States are encouraged to contribute to the InvestEU Member State compartment to support financial products in line with the STEP objectives, without prejudice to applicable State aid rules. It should be possible for Member States, on a voluntary bases, to include as a measure in their recovery and resilience plans a cash contribution for the purpose of the Member State compartment of InvestEU to support objectives of the STEP. That additional contribution to support objectives of the STEP could reach up to 6% of their recovery and resilience plan’s total financial allocation to the Member State compartment of InvestEU. Additional flexibility and clarifications should also be introduced to better pursue the objectives of the STEP.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation, and its European Innovation Council (EIC) provides for support for innovations with potential breakthrough and disruptive nature with scale-up potential that may be too risky for private investors. Additional flexibility should be provided for under Horizon Europe, so that the EIC Accelerator can provide equity- only support to non-bankable SMEs, including start-ups, and non-bankable SMEs and small mid-caps, carrying out innovation in the technologies supported by the STEP and regardless of whether they previously received other types of support from the EIC Accelerator. The implementation of the EIC Fund is currently limited to a maximum investment amount of EUR 15 million except in exceptional cases and cannot accommodate follow-on financing rounds or larger investment amounts. Allowing for equity- only support for non-bankable SMEs and small mid-caps would address the existing market gap with investments needs in the range of EUR 15 to 50 million. The equity- only support shall be provided by additional financial resources provided by STEP regulation. Moreover, experience has shown that the amounts committed for the EIC Pilot under Horizon2020 are not fully used. These unused funds should be made available for the purposes of the EIC Accelerator under Horizon Europe. The Horizon Europe Regulation should also be amended to reflect the increased envelope for the European Defence Fund.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) b) supporting the development or manufacturing throughout the Union of coherent and connected technologies, also proposed by the Member States and approved by the Commission, related to the conditions set out in paragraph 2.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. Where an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b) TFEU relates to any of the technology fields referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1, the relevant technologies shall be deemed to be critical and dedicated funds should be allocated to the IPCEI.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Sovereignty Seal is awarded by default to Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b) TFEU related to any of the technology fields referred to in point (a), paragraph 1 of article 2
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. When revising their recovery and resilience plans in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Member States shall, without prejudice to the provismay, even in derogations of that Regulationart. 21, if appropriate, consider as a priority actions which have been awarded a Sovereignty Seal in accordance with paragraph 1.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall report on monitoring and on the expenditure financed by the Platform, with reference to each of the relevant committed funds. It shall, as appropriate, report on the achievements related to each of the specific Platform objectives.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 a – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 6 (new)
Article 10 a – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 6 (new)
In addition to the allowances referred to in the first to fifth subparagraphs of this paragraph, the Innovation Fund shall also implement a financial envelope for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027 of EUR 5 000 000 000 in current prices for supporting investments contributing to the STEP objective referred to in Article 2, point (a)(ii) of Regulation .../...63 [STEP Regulation]. This financial envelope shall be made available to support investments only in Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017 . In addition, up to XX % of the financial envelope shall be made available to create a window to support investments part of an IPCEI contributing to the STEP objective referred to in the aforementioned period. _________________ 63 Regulation …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council … [insert full title and OJ reference].
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1058
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
(a) (4) The Article 5(2) of the Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 is replaced by the following: 2. Productive investments in tangible and intangible assets, as defined in the State aid legislation, in enterprises other than SMEs may be supported:
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1060
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
(1a) In Article 13 “Amendment to the Partnership Agreement” paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: A Member State may submit to the Commission by 31 March 2024 an amended Partnership Agreement, taking into account the outcome of the mid-term review.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1060
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 18 – paragraph 1 – point a
(1b) "In Article 18 paragraph 1 point a is replaced by the following" (a) The new challenge identified in relevant country specific recommendations in 2023
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 1 c (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point 1 c (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/1060
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
(1c) In Article 18 paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: The Member State shall submit an assessment for each programme on the outcome of the mid-term review, including a proposal for the definitive allocation of the flexibility amount referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 86(1), to the Commission by 31 March 2024.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 135 – paragraph 6 (new) – subparagraph 2
Article 135 – paragraph 6 (new) – subparagraph 2
Amounts from resources other than REACT-EU reimbursed by the Commission as interim payments in 2025 shall not exceed 1 % of the total financial appropriations to the programme concerned by Fund, REACT-EU resources excluded. Amounts that would be due to be paid by the Commission in 2025 exceeding this percentage shall not be paid and shall be used exclusively for the clearing of pre- financing at closurepaid within the framework of the payment of the final balance according to the article 141.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new) Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new) Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
(1a) By way of derogation from Article 60(1) and the first and fourth subparagraphs of Article 120(3), a co- financing rate of 100 % may be applied to expenditure declared in the final accounting year for one or more priority axes in a programme supported by the ERDF, the ESF or the Cohesion Fund. By way of derogation from Article 30(1) and (2) and Article 96(10), the application of the co-financing rate of 100 % shall not require a Commission decision approving a programme amendment. The Member State shall notify the revised financial tables to the Commission following approval by the monitoring committee. The co-financing rate of 100 % shall apply only if the financial tables are notified to the Commission before the submission of the final application for an interim payment for the final accounting year in accordance with Article 135(2).
Amendment 164 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2021/523
Article 13 – paragraph 7
Article 13 – paragraph 7
(6a) Article 13(7) is replaced by the following: Contracts between the implementing partner and the final recipient or the financial intermediary or other entity referred to in point (a) of Article 16(1) under the EU guarantee referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 4(2) shall be signed at the latest two years after the approval of the relevant financing or investment operation by the implementing partner. In other cases, contracts between the implementing partner and the final recipient or the financial intermediary or other entity referred to in point (a) of Article 16(1) shall be signed by 31 December 2028.
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Regulation (EU) 2021/523
Article 23 – paragraph 3
Article 23 – paragraph 3
3. In the context of the procedures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, without prejudice to the existing framework of the procedures provided for in Article 19 of the EIB Statute, the Commission shall take into account any Sovereignty Seal awarded under Article 4 of Regulation .../... [STEP Regulation] to a project.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Regulation (EU) 2021/523
Article 35 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The STEP Window should promote risk taking by implementing partners favouring their undertaking of subordinated positions in risky investment. Such risky projects would benefit from dedicated fast track process.