Activities of Yvan VEROUGSTRAETE
Plenary speeches (8)
Statement by the candidate for President of the Commission (debate)
State of the Energy union (debate)
The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change (debate)
The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences (debate)
Possible extradition of Paul Watson: the danger of criminalisation of environmental defenders and whistle-blowers, and the need for their protection in the EU (debate)
The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe (debate)
Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes (debate)
Outcome of the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 in Cali, Colombia (COP16) (debate)
Institutional motions (1)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the devastating floods in central and eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change
Written questions (5)
Review of the Bathing Water Directive
Release of Paul Watson
European medals at the Olympic Games
The spread of bluetongue virus throughout the EU
Odometer fraud
Amendments (103)
Amendment 12 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Citation 40
Citation 40
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products,
Amendment 92 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas Azerbaijan, after having imposed a total humanitarian blockade on the Nagorno-Karabakh territory, then conducted a pre-planned, unjustified military attack against it in September 2023, which led to the forced exodus of the entire 100 000 ethnic Armenian resident population which has not since been able to return, amounting to ethnic cleansing ; whereas several of its former leaders are still detained in Baku and are considered to be Prisoners of War; whereas there are credible reports confirming the organised destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh; whereas no peace agreement has been signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia despite mediation efforts by the EU and others; whereas Azerbaijan persists in formulating demands that are manifestly incompatible with Armenia's territorial integrity;
Amendment 111 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the outcome of the first GST at COP28, which recognises that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C with no or limited overshoot requires a peaking of global greenhouse gas emissions before 2025 and deep, rapid and sustained reductions in global GHG emissions of 43 % by 2030 and 60 % by 2035 relative to the 2019 level, reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050;
Amendment 146 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on all Parties to urgently scale up their climate targets and accompanying policies and raise the ambition of their NDCs to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °Cachieve a swift and just transition to climate neutral economies and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement and the outcome of the first GST; underlines the particular responsibility of all major emitters and the G20 countries to take the lead;
Amendment 152 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Strongly urges all Parties to come forward in their next NDCs with ambitious, quantified economy–wide absolute emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories and aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as informed by the latest science, in the light of different national circumstances;
Amendment 154 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on all Parties, including the EU, based on the COP26 decision regarding common time frames, to communicate, in 2025, an NDC for 2035, and to submit this in NDC by the deadline foreseen by the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 170 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the EU and its Member States are the largest providers of public climate finance, with all EU climate finance reaching an all-time high in 2022 of EUR 28.5 billion and underlines the need for continued and increased contributions; in this respect, reiterates its call for a dedicated EU public finance mechanism that provides additional and adequate support towards delivering the EU's fair share of international climate finance goals;
Amendment 188 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on all Parties to agree on a post-2025 new collective quantified goal on climate finance at COP29 with safeguards to reach the agreed quantum and timeframeand comprehensive monitoring and transparency mechanisms to reach the agreed quantum and timeframe; underlines that the new quantified goal must clearly reflect the increased need for climate finance globally and address both mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage in a balanced way; stresses that the current contributor base is insufficient, and therefore calls on other countries, especially emerging economies, to contribute towards the new quantified goal according to their financial capabilities; recalls that many developing countries' NDCs are conditional on international climate finance; highlights, therefore, that the provision of adequate climate finance is key to achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 209 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. CRecalls that one of the goals of the Paris Agreement is to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions; recalls the conclusions of COP27 that delivering the necessary funding for the climate transition will require a transformation of the financial system and its structures and processes, engaging governments, central banks, commercial banks, institutional investors and other financial actors; considers it essential to advance the Bridgetown Agenda without delay; calls on all the major international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to align their portfolios and lending policies with the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 215 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes that the high risk profile of many countries impedes their capacity to attract and mobilize private investments in mitigation and adaptation to climate change; calls on the international financial institutions, Multilateral Development Banks and governments to coordinate and propose a massive financial de-risking plans for climate mitigation and adaptation projects in the context of the COP29;
Amendment 221 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls that fossil fuels are responsible for over 75 % of all GHGs and are therefore the largest contributor to climate change; recalls the IEA’s assessment that there should be no new oil, gas or coal developments for emissions pathways that keep the global temperature increase below 1,5 °C1a; calls on all Parties to adopt plans to phase–out fossil fuels in keeping with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement; _________________ 1a Net Zero Roadmap, September 2023
Amendment 228 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. RStrongly regrets that fossil energy subsidies in the EU remained stable between 2010 and 2020, at around EUR 50 billion per year, and even increased to EUR 123 billion in 2022; recalls that the 8th Environmental Action Programme requires the Commission and the Member States to ‘set a deadline for the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies consistent with the ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C’; calls on the Commission to urgently make a proposal in this regard and on the Member States to take concrete measures resulting in a swift phase–out of all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies;
Amendment 232 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates its call to end, as a matter of urgency, all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies in the EU as soon as possible and by 2025 at the latest, and other environmentally harmful subsidies as soon as possible and by 2027 at the latest, at both EU and Member State levels through the implementation of concrete policies, timelines and measures;
Amendment 236 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is concerned that governments worldwide spent USD 620 billion in 2023 on subsidising the use of fossil fuels, which is significantly more than the USD 70 billion that was spent in 2023 on support for consumer-facing clean energy investments; encourages all Parties to end all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies as soon as possible; recalls that continued provisions of environmentally harmful subsidies prevent the Parties from meeting their climate targets and increases mitigation costs over time; calls on all Parties to ensure transparent reporting of their fossil fuels subsidies and to adopt immediate plans for their phase–out;
Amendment 244 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Reiterates its support for the work of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and encourages all governments to adopt the coalition's commitments to align all policies and practices in the remit of finance ministries with the goals of the Paris Agreement and to adopt effective carbon pricing, as laid down in the Helsinki Principles;
Amendment 262 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the agreement on the framework for the global goal on adaptation (GGA) at COP28, namely the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience; highlights the need to translate the GGA into measurable outcomes and to track progress towards achieving the goal; calls on all Parties to adopt national adaptation plans with set targets and goals, and to update said plans every five years;
Amendment 314 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses its profound concern regarding the choice of Baku as the COP29 host, considering the blatant violations of fundamental rights, democracy and international law perpetrated by Azerbaijan, namely through an unprovoked military offensive leading to an ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023; urges the EU to ensure that COP29 is not used by Azerbaijan as a platform to cover up these violations and advance its disinformation agenda, but rather as an occasion for the international community to bring them into focus and remind Azerbaijan of its international obligations;
Amendment 351 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Takes note of the EU’s updated NDC; highlights that the EU’s current climate legislation will reduce the EU’s net GHG emissions by around 57 % compared to 1990 by 2030; strongly urges the Member States as well as the private sector to take all necessary actions to ensure that the target is reached;
Amendment 357 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Underlines the need to adopt a science–based EU climate target for 2040 in accordance with the European Climate Law and as the basis for the EU's NDC for 2035 and 2040 and welcomes the Commission´s proposal for a 90 % reduction target as well as the commitment by president–elect Ursula von der Leyen in her political guidelines to enshrine the 90 % target in the Climate Law;
Amendment 379 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Reiterates the need to mainstream climate ambition into all EU policies and the measures transposing them, and underlines that Article 6(4) of the European Climate Law obliges the Commission to assess the consistency of any draft measure or legislative proposal, including budgetary proposals, with the EU’s climate targets; urges the Commission to apply this rule rigorously and without exceptions;
Amendment 386 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure that the national energy and climate plans and long-term strategies of the Member States include sufficient action and financial means to achieve the EU’s 2030 targets and long– term objectives; expresses concern at the gap in ambition in the current plans and calls on all Member States to step up their climate action before it is too late;
Amendment 402 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that the current geopolitical situation highlights the urgency of cuttending the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels and the need to boost the deployment of renewables;
Amendment 407 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses the need to step up EU action on climate adaptation, resilience and preparedness by adopting binding EU legislation on climate adaptation, by taking action to improve water resilience, and by strengthening the EU Civil Protection Mechanism;
Amendment 415 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Notes that the GST highlights the importance of transitioning to sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production in efforts to address climate change, including through circular economy approaches, and underlines the need to continue to develop the circular economy in the EU, including by supporting innovation and investment in circular solutions and business models and markets for secondary raw materials;
Amendment 482 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Stresses the need to strengthen the UE Civil Protection Mechanism by increasing its financial, material and human resources in order to enhance the EU’s capacity to prevent and manage increasingly frequent large-scale and cross-border natural disasters such as wildfires, droughts and floods;
Amendment 520 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Highlights the fact that the transport sector is the only sector in the EU in which emissions have risen at EU level since 1990 and that this is not compatible with the EU’s climate goals, which require greater and faster reductions in emissions from all sectors of society, including the aviation and maritime sectors;
Amendment 577 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Welcomes the fact that according to the World Bank, 24 % of global emissions are now covered by carbon pricing; nevertheless regrets that both the coverage and the pricing levels remain far too low to meet the Paris Agreement goals; urges all Parties to implement pricing of fossil fuels and fossil raw materials as part of their climate policies in line with the polluter pays principle and taking into account the need for a just transition, at a level corresponding to the necessary emissions reductions; stresses the need for a global approach towards carbon pricing;
Amendment 579 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 b (new)
Paragraph 46 b (new)
46b. Invites the Commission to further promote emission trading schemes or other carbon pricing mechanisms on a global scale and to explore links and other forms of cooperation with existing carbon pricing mechanisms in non–EU countries in order to accelerate cost–efficient and socially fair emissions reductions worldwide; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to put in place safeguards to ensure that any links with the EU ETS will continue to deliver additional and permanent mitigation contributions and will not undermine the EU’s domestic GHG emissions commitments;
Amendment 583 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Stresses the need to address the climate and environmental impact of the textile sector and urges the sector to take a bigger responsibility globally for its emissions across its value chain and product lifecycle; highlights, in this regard, the need for consistent and transparent standards and criteria to help consumers make informed choices and prevent greenwashing by ensuring that sustainability claims are backed by verifiable evidence;
Amendment 590 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Stresses the need to fight greenwashing by working towards establishing global standards for green claims; in this regard underlines the need to establish strict rules at the EU level;
Amendment 50 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights the importance of having a Framework Programme based on excellence in order to ensure participation of the best researchers in Europe through the whole programme.
Amendment 65 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is deeply convinced that EU spending on science, research and innovation is the best investment in our common European future and for increasing competitiveness; agrees with Mr Draghi that all public R&D spending in the EU should be better coordinated at EU level and that a reformed and strengthened FP is crucial in achieving this;, meaning properly aligning investments with the EU strategic priorities, focusing on funding initiatives that achieve relevant impact and create added value; and that a reformed and strengthened FP is crucial in achieving this; at EU level and that a reformed and strengthened FP is crucial in achieving this; Recognizes that investments in research, development, and innovation in Europe are lagging behind China and the US, and that technology transfer is essential to address current EU innovations gaps.
Amendment 82 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that administrative simplification stagnated under HEU and might even have reversed, given that transaction costs rose signif; insists on further administrative simplification, streamlining of the relevant procedures, cutting costs and focusing on applicantly;s.
Amendment 91 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that a lthere arge number of beneficiaries do not consider the introductionvarious opinions and experiences among different beneficiaries regarding the functionality of lump- sum funding to be a simplification;s.
Amendment 107 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4 a (new)
Subheading 4 a (new)
Recognises the importance of Pillar 1 in promoting scientific excellence and attracting highly-skilled research, through European Research Council (ERC), and programs such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET).
Amendment 135 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new)
Subheading 6 a (new)
Agrees that streamlining and boosting the European Innovation Council (EIC), attracting private investments, and supporting the commercialization of research should be the center of the Pillar 3, as confirmed by the Heitor Report. Recognizes EIC should have the flexibility to strategically maximise its potential to support breakthrough technology.
Amendment 161 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Recommends to expand and strengthen the public-private partnerships and co-funding mechanisms within FP10 to leverage resources, share risks, and accelerate technological developments. Further emphasizes that PPP governance structures should be streamlined and simplified to avoid unnecessary burdens and enhance focus on key priorities.
Amendment 166 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Recommends that FP10 does not exclusively focus on civil applications and creates a dedicated instrument with a specific focus on dual-use R&D to exploit the untapped potential for spinout from civil R&D to defence R&D and vice versa.
Amendment 177 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 183 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. The Commission should use the conclusion of its Assessment of Lump Sum Funding in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe to further improve, simplify and reduce red tape related to lump-sum funding under HEU. Special attention should be paid to reducing administrative burdens and transaction costs for recipients throughout the entire life cycle of the project, from the application phase through project implementation and audit.
Amendment 209 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for FP10 to be a stand-alone EU programme, within highly anticipated Competitiveness Fund as announced by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in her speech on July 17, 2024, in Strasbourg, dedicated to EU research excellence, with a substantially higher budget that is sufficient for achieving the 3 % GDP spending target and for funding at least 75 % of the excellent proposals submitted; recommends that FP10 focus on three core objectives: (i) advanccreating thea European Research Arcompetition of ideas (ERA) with specific measures that address regional disparities and support under-represented Member States ii) supporting strategic collaborative research initiatives, which will be of utmost importance for European industry, startups and SMEs closing their innovation capacities, competitiveness gap; (iii) creatadvancing athe European competition of ideas, and (iii) supporting strategic, large-scale collaborative research initiatives; recommends that FP10 be structured in three parts, each addressing one of the three core objResearch Area (ERA) to foster cooperation and strengthen synergies at the EU-level to ensure applicants for funding across Member States have the necessary knowledge to navigate the application processes effectives;ly.
Amendment 214 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for FP10 to be a stand-alone EU programme dedicated to EU research excellence, with a substantially higher budget that is sufficient for achieving the 3 % GDP spending target and for funding at least 75 % of the excellent proposals submitted; recommends that FP10 focus on three core objectives: (i) advancing the European Research Area (ERA) with specific measures that address regional disparities and support under-represented Member States in their innovation capacities, (ii) creating a European competition of ideas, and (iii) supporting strategic, large-scale collaborative research initiatives; recommends that FP10 be structured in three parts, each addressing one of the three core objectives;.
Amendment 244 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point ii
Paragraph 15 – point a – point ii
Amendment 257 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iii
Paragraph 15 – point a – point iii
iii. contribute to EU priorities, but on the terms of science and innovation rather than on the terms of policymakers;
Amendment 294 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that an expanded European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC) should be at the heart of the part of FP10 dealing with a European competition of ideas a; recommends that this part should receive half of the FP10 budget; recommends thatcross-border collaboration should be encouraged and these programmes be designed so that they create a European, bottom-up funnel for innovation to develop quickly from fundamental science to innovation scale- up; as well as innovative ecosystems, consisting of universities, research and technology organisations, industry, startups, SMEs and investors, to translate results of research and development into the market in terms of products and value creation; considers that the EIC can only succeed if it can both offer blended finance as a single project and act with the same speed and agility as private actors on the venture capitalist market through a tailor-made legal entity for implementation; underlines that the strengthened autonomy and self- governance of both the ERC and the EIC are crucial to achieving this;
Amendment 305 #
2024/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Urges the Commission to improve the synergies between FP10 and European sectoral policies, in particular with the future new Industrial Policy and the next Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs).
Amendment 20 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses that gender balance in the composition of the top management of our agencies and institutions must be a guideline; notes that the Agency's senior management is currently composed of 67% men and 33% women, according to the figures communicated; calls on the Agency to take this into consideration in future recruitments;
Amendment 22 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Welcomes the agency's efforts towards an Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification, which was finally granted in January 2024;
Amendment 23 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Welcomes the fact that the ECDC has adopted its charter on diversity and inclusion in 2023;
Amendment 24 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Notes that 22,7 % of the Agency's staff are nationals of the Member State where it is located; recalls the importance of geographical balance and encourages the Agency to continue to take the necessary measures to have a balanced and fair geographical representation;
Amendment 43 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses that gender balance in the composition of the top management of our Agencies and institutions must be a guideline; notes that the Agency's senior management is currently composed of 73% men and 27% women, according to the figures communicated; calls on the Agency to take this into consideration in future recruitments;
Amendment 44 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Notes that 29.1 % of its staff are nationals of the Member State where the Agency is located; recalls the importance of geographical balance and encourages the Agency to continue to take the necessary measures to have a balanced and fair geographical representation;
Amendment 56 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that gender balance in the composition of the top management of our Agencies and institutions must be a guideline; welcomes the fact that the Agency's senior management is currently composed of 50% men and 50% women, according to the figures communicated;
Amendment 57 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Notes that 20.1 % of its staff are nationals of the Member State where the Agency is located; recalls the importance of geographical balance and encourages the Agency to continue to take the necessary measures to have a balanced and fair geographical representation;
Amendment 78 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that gender balance in the composition of the top management of our Agencies and institutions must be a guideline; notes that the EFSA's senior management is currently composed of 63% men and 38% women, according to the figures communicated; calls on the Agency to take this into consideration in future recruitments;
Amendment 80 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Notes that 41.8 % of its staff are nationals of the Member State where the Agency is located; recalls the importance of geographical balance and encourages the Agency to continue to take the necessary measures to have a balanced and fair geographical representation;
Amendment 99 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Stresses that gender balance in the composition of the top management of our agencies and institutions must be a guideline; notes that the Agency's senior management is currently composed of 60% men and 40% women, according to the figures communicated; calls on the Agency to take this into consideration in future recruitments;
Amendment 101 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Notes that the Agency has concluded an internal environmental audit in 2023 with a view to obtaining EMAS certification in 2024 ;
Amendment 11 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses, in addition, the recommendations made by the Court of Auditors in its special report 15/2024 on climate adaptation in the EU; deplores the fact that more than a third of adaptation projects audited had little or no impact on increasing adaptive capacity, including projects on promoting large scale irrigation instead of switching to less water-intensive crops, constructing dykes and investing in artificial snow cannons; calls on the Commission in this regard to ensure that all relevant EU-funded projects are adapted to the current and future climate conditions, strengthening promotion of long-term cross-cutting and effective solutions for climate adaptation;
Amendment 12 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses the recommendations made by the Court of Auditors in its special report 15/2024 on climate adaptation in the EU; deplores the fact that the data provided by the Member States in their communications on national adaptation measures are essentially descriptive and do not allow these data to be monitored or compared; calls for the introduction of a common methodology and indicators for the 27 Member States to allow quantitative evaluation of the progress made in adapting to climate change;
Amendment 17 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Points out the findings of the Court of Auditors in its special report 14/2024 on the contribution of RRF to Green transition; regrets that the design and implementation of the Facility calls into question the achievement of its climate and environmental objectives; calls on the Commission to urgently enhance the performance of green transition measures and improves reporting on climate spending under the Recovery and Resilience Facility;
Amendment 21 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the importance of proper scrutiny of climate and biodiversity expenditure in the Union budget, and holds the Commission accountable for the implementation of a robust and reliable methodology, in line with the commitments undertaken in the MFF agreement and paragraphs 16d and 16e, respectively, of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources2 ; calls on the Commission to follow the Court’s recommendations in the relevant reports to better estimate climate and biodiversity spending under current and future funding instruments, to ensure adequate design of the existing policies and their implementation, including revised CAP Strategic Plans Regulation, to guarantee that the environmental ambition is not lowered in comparison to the originally adopted Regulation, as committed to by the European Commission, and ensure future funding instruments that are to support the climate and, biodiversity and wider environmental objectives and targets, to enhance the performance of green transition measures and to ensure comprehensive, consistent, reliable and transparent reporting on climate and biodiversity spending under the RRF; _________________ 2 OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 28, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2 020/1222/oj
Amendment 26 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Notes with concern the conclusions of the Court of Auditors that the Strategic Plans, implementing the Common Agricultural Policy, do not match the EU’s ambitions for the climate and the environment, and that key elements for assessing green performance are missing1a; Calls for a balanced representation of different types of land management and farming in the European Board on Agriculture and Food to be established in early 2025 to inform the Vision for Agriculture and Food, with the aim to ensure a dialogue on true solutions for resilient farming models, supported by a fair and just transition, where nobody and no rural region is left behind; _________________ 1a Special report 20/2024: Common Agricultural Policy Plans – Greener, but not matching the EU’s ambitions for the climate and the environment
Amendment 34 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Attributes great importance to a pluralistic and vibrant civil society, vital to enabling a balanced policy dialogue in a democratic society; stands behind the continuation of the support to capacity building of civil society organisations and their involvement in the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of EU legislation and policy through EU funding programmes via transparent and competitive process, including via LIFE operating grants;
Amendment 36 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls on the Commission to revise the guidelines1a, reassuring the applicants of operating grants of the eligible expenditure pursuant to the applicable Regulation and confirming their vital position in the decision making process, while paying full regards to the transparency provisions applicable to them; _________________ 1a Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy
Amendment 113 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) adequate resources and procedures shall be provided for the screening authority to determine whether it has jurisdiction over a foreign investment filed for authorisation and to carry out an initial review followed by, where necessary, an in-depth investigation to determine whether that foreign investment is likely to negatively affect security or public order, taking into account at least the criteria laid down in Article 13. The purpose of the in-depth investigation shall be, in particular, to determine whether a screening decision as referred to in Article 14(1) is appropriate and to determine its content.
Amendment 116 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the screening authority shall monitor and ensure compliance with the screening mechanism and screening decisions. In particular, it shall put in place adequate procedures and resources to identify and prevent circumvention of the screening mechanism and screening decisions;
Amendment 120 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) foreign investors, foreign investors’ subsidiaries in the Union through which the foreign investment is carried out and undertakings concerned by a screening decision shall have the possibility to seek judicial recourse against that screening decision. Member States shall implement a harmonized appeal mechanism;
Amendment 123 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
(i a) the screening authority will allow applicants to use the common European form to request an authorisation. The Commission shall develop this form by means of implementing acts pursuant to Article 21, to be adopted prior to the date of application of this Regulation referred to in Article 24(2). Member States may add additional information requests to the form based on their national procedure.
Amendment 130 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Member States shall: (a) align screening deadlines at national level with the Union cooperation mechanism timelines set out in Article 8, providing for: (i) an initial review period not exceeding 30 days from notification; (ii) where necessary, an in-depth investigation period not exceeding 60 additional days; and (iii) criteria for extensions of these deadlines; (b) implement standardised procedural milestones including: (i) formal acknowledgment of complete notification within 5 working days; (ii) clear triggers for moving from initial review to in-depth investigation; (iii) structured communication points with applicants throughout the process; and (iv) annual standardised reporting on average processing times and deviations from standard timelines.
Amendment 132 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) the foreign investor or the foreign investor’s subsidiary in the Union is directly or indirectly controlled by the government, including state bodies, regional or local authorities or armed forces, of a third country, including through ownership structure, significant funding, special rights or state-appointed directors or managers. In cases where the ownership structure is opaque or unclear, the investment shall be notified as a precaution;
Amendment 138 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) applicants requesting an authorisation shall file their requests for authorisation in all relevant Member States on the samewithin 3 calendar days, and each request for authorisation shall make reference to the other requests;
Amendment 139 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) if the requests for authorisation concern a foreign investment meeting any of the conditions set out in Article 5(1), the respective Member States shall send their notifications to the cooperation mechanism on the same day after the last Member State received its request for authorisation and within the deadline laid down in point (a) of paragraph 1 of this Article;
Amendment 140 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – title
Article 7 – title
Comments by Member States and opinions, alerts and Decisions by the Commission on notified foreign investments
Amendment 152 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 6
Article 7 – paragraph 6
6. Following the receipt of a comment pursuant to paragraph 1, the Member State shall set up a meeting with the Member States who issued comments to discuss how to best address the risks identified. If the Member State where the foreign investment is planned or completed disagrees with the risks identified or, if applicable, the measure proposed with the comment, the Member States shall aim to identify alternative solutions. Where the comment concerns a multi-country transaction, the other Member States who notified the foreign investment shall also be invited to discuss whether the intended outcomes are compatible with one another and, where applicable, the intended conditions are able to address identified cross-border risks adequately. The Commission shall be invited to any such meetings.
Amendment 154 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. If no alternative solution is reached in Paragraph 6, the Commission may alert the Member State where the foreign investment is planned of its concern that the foreign investment is likely to negatively affect the security and public order of another Member State. The Commission may only alert upon approval of the affected other Member State. Upon receipt of such an alert, the Member State where the foreign investment is planned shall not adopt the intended screening decision for a period of 30 calendar days, unless the Member States involved and the Commission agree on mitigating measures or reach an alternative solution.
Amendment 155 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 7 b (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Where the Commission has issued an alert in accordance with Paragraph 7a and no mitigating measures or alternative solution is agreed upon after 30 calendar days, it may, within a period of 30 calendar days, adopt a Decision finding the intended screening decision to be incompatible with this Directive and requiring the Member State concerned to refrain from adopting it, and if such measure has been adopted, to repeal it. Such a Decision may only be adopted if the Commission can show that the intended screening decision negatively affects the security and public order of another Member State, and upon the latter's approval.
Amendment 157 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point a
(a) notify its screening decision to the respective Member States and to the Commission via the secure and encrypted system referred to in Article 12(4) no later than 3 calendar days afterbefore it wais sent to the respective parties to the foreign investment;
Amendment 161 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point b – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point b – introductory part
(b) provide a written explanation to the respective Member States and the Commission via the secure and encrypted system referred to in Article 12(4) no later than 7 calendar days afterbefore the screening decision wais notified pursuant to paragraph (a) on:
Amendment 173 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point b a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – point b a (new)
(b a) The comments, opinions, alerts and Decisions issued by other Member States or the Commission as well as the written explanation from the Member State where the foreign investment is planned, will be enclosed in the secure database set up pursuant to Article 7(10). If certain information may not be shared according to Paragraph 11, the database shall at least include a reference to the comments, opinions and written explanations, and the involved parties.
Amendment 180 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 10
Article 7 – paragraph 10
10. The Commission shall set up a secure database made available to all Member States with information on the foreign investments assessed by the cooperation mechanism and the outcome of the assessments under the national screening mechanisms, including information about the relevant screening decisions. The Commission shall upload to that database the information it has at its disposal since 12 October 2020, including relevant business intelligence it has procured and verified from commercial vendors. By [date of application of this Regulation] Member States shall upload to that database the information at their disposal about the outcome of the relevant procedure under their own screening mechanisms. They may also provide additional explanations.
Amendment 181 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 10 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. The Commission shall develop a business intelligence capability to inform the Member State screening authorities, develop coordinated risk assessments and support a Union FDI capacity-building programme through the FDI Expert Group, offering best practices, lessons learned and common training programmes for officials of the Member States. This requires the Commission to have the appropriate technical and human resources, as well as the financial resources to procure commercial business intelligence from private vendors.
Amendment 184 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) the meeting referred to in Article 7(6) shall occur within 30 calendar days following the opinion or comment.
Amendment 185 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d b (new)
(d b) where the Commission reserves the right to issue an alert referred to in Article 7(7a), the respective alert shall be sent to the notifying Member State via the secure and encrypted system referred to in Article 12(4) no later than 15 days following the meeting referred to in Article 7(6).
Amendment 186 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d c (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d c (new)
(d c) Upon receipt an alert, the Member State where the foreign investment is planned shall not adopt the intended screening decision for a period of 30 calendar days, unless the Member States involved and the Commission agree on new conditions to reach an alternative solution.
Amendment 187 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d d (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point d d (new)
(d d) where the Commission reserves the right to a Decision referred to in Article 7(7b), the respective decision shall be sent to the notifying Member State via the secure and encrypted system referred to in Article 12(4) no later than 30 calendar days following the period referred to in Paragraph (dc).
Amendment 188 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The notifying Member State shall at least take their screening decision only after the deadlines referred to in points (a)-(d) have expirc) have expired. If the Commission reserves the right to issue an opinion, alert or Decision, the decision may only take place after the respective deadlines in points (da), (dc) and (dd) have expired, unless an alternative solution is reached.
Amendment 193 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall be granted at leastup to 15 months, after the foreign investment has been completed, the right to open the procedure set out in paragraph 1, provided the respective foreign investment has not been notified to the cooperation mechanism in the meantime.
Amendment 200 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the name of the investor, the global ultimate owner of the investor and the Union target, the ownership structure of the investor and, where applicable, of the corporate group to which the investor is a part, and whether they are subject to restrictive measures or were involved in a foreign investment previously screened by a Member State and not authorized or only authorized with conditions;
Amendment 206 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall determine, for the purposes of taking a screening decision pursuant to Article 14 or issuing a duly motivated comment pursuant to Article 7(1) or Article 9(7), whether a foreign investment is likely to negatively affect security or public order. They may use the risk evaluation form developed by the Commission.
Amendment 207 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The Commission shall set out, by means of implementing acts pursuant to Article 21, to be adopted prior to the date of application of this Regulation referred to in Article 24(2), the form that may be used under paragraph 1.
Amendment 210 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) the security, confidentiality, integrity and functioning of critical infrastructure, whether physical or virtualsectors of high criticality and other critical sectors as defined in Annex I and II of Directive (EU) 2022/2557, whether physical or virtual, including the land and property critical to the use of such critical infrastructure; in that context, based on the information available, it shall also be assessed whether the foreign investment is likely to negatively affect the resilience of any of the critical entities they have identified under Directive (EU) 2022/2557 of the European Parliament and of the Council20 as well as entities in scope of Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council21 . The results of the Union level coordinated security risk assessments shall be taken into account, including those of critical supply chains carried out in accordance with Article 22(1) of Directive (EU) 2022/2555 shall also be, which taken into account. ; both technical and non-technical risk factors, such as undue influence by a third country on suppliers _________________ 20 Directive (EU) 2022/2557 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on the resilience of critical entities and repealing Council Directive 2008/114/EC (OJ L 333, 27.12.2022, p. 164–198, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2557/oj). 21 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148 (OJ L 333, 27.12.2022, p. 80–152, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/oj).
Amendment 214 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) the continuity of supply of critical inputs and the resilience of supply chains, including by taking into consideration the risk assessments in Article 24 of Regulation 2024/1252 ;
Amendment 220 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) the protection of sensitive information, including personal data and intellectual property, in particular with regard to the ability of the foreign investor to access, control, and otherwise process such personal datasensitive information, or
Amendment 222 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. When determining whether an investment is likely to negatively affect security or public order, the Member States or the Commission shall alsot least take into account information related to the foreign investor, including:
Amendment 224 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – point e
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – point e
(e) whether the foreign investor, a natural person or entity controlling the foreign investor, the beneficial owner of the foreign investor, any of the subsidiaries of the foreign investor, or any other party owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf or at the direction of the foreign investor is likely to pursue a third country’s policy objectivnegatively affect the security interests or restrictive measures of the Union or its Member States, or facilitate the development of a third country’s military capabilities.
Amendment 225 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – point e a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – point e a (new)
(e a) whether the foreign investor or any of its subsidiaries are established in a third country whose legislation allows arbitrary access to any kind of company operations or data, including commercially sensitive data, and can impose obligations for intelligence purposes without democratic checks and balances, oversight mechanisms, due process or the right to appeal to an independent court or tribunal.
Amendment 226 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – point e b (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 4 – point e b (new)
(e b) whether the foreign investor or any of its subsidiaries or the third country in which it is established is subject to restrictive measures or whether it has a flawed rule of law or human rights protection track record or an aggressive civil-military fusion strategy;
Amendment 227 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. The Commission, in cooperation with the FDI Expert Group, may carry out a coordinated risk assessment relating to a specific sector, critical technology or foreign investor and the level of control established by third countries, to inform screening decisions of the Member States. The coordinated risk assessment shall be added to the risk evaluation template in Paragraph 1, shared and made available in the secure database set up pursuant to Article 7(10) and shall be taken into account by Member States when determining whether an investment is likely to negatively affect security or public order.
Amendment 231 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. On the basis of the information received in accordance with paragraph 1, and based on its assessment of trends and developments, the Commission shall provide an annual report on implementation of this Regulation to the European Parliament and to the Council. It shall include an overview of the information in paragraph 1 per Member State. That report shall be made public.
Amendment 242 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission is empowered to adopt implementing acts setting out the forms to be used to provide the information indicated in Article 104(2)(ia), Article 10(1) and Article 13(1).
Amendment 247 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 a (new)
Annex II – point 2 a (new)
2 a. Sectors of high criticality as defined in Annex 1 of Directive 2022/2555
Amendment 250 #
2024/0017(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 b (new)
Annex II – point 2 b (new)
2 b. Media services as defined in Article 2(1) of Regulation 2024/1083