Activities of Lena EK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Considers it necessary to review the criteria for promotion to senior research positions (e.g. professorships) in order to include a strong gender perspective and address the lack of women in these posts;

2011/06/21
Committee: FEMM

2011/2107(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the European Commission to make a special effort to increase the number of female entrepreneurs in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and welcomes the Commission's plans to establish a network for female entrepreneurs; underlines the need for adequate financial resources to be assigned for this purpose;

2011/06/21
Committee: FEMM

2011/2107(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises the importance of promoting non-gender-segregated research areas; calls on universities, EU institutions and Member States to promote science as a field of interest to both sexes from the early stages of education by promoting female researchers as role models. and by conducting information campaigns about the opportunities available in the research field;

2011/06/21
Committee: FEMM

2011/2107(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Underlines the importance of having women represented in leading positions in research institutions as well as in concrete research projects.

2011/06/21
Committee: FEMM

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas FP7 should be modelled on the same general principles as ERA,

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the visibility of the EU added value in research and innovation;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines the fact that at the core of the CSF should be the idea that the differing nature and scale of R&D&I projects, together with the multiplicity of funding schemes, must be organised in such a way that coherence, articulation and complementarity are ensured; believes that a moratorium on instruments should be considered until the existing ones have been sufficiently developed and adequately evaluated;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Highlights the pivotal role of Research infrastructures (RIs) for the Knowledge Triangle and calls for coherence between what is funded in different areas; calls for efforts to boost RIs, especially where there is the greatest scope for added value at European level;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Stresses the importance of improving participation from Member States that are underrepresented, such as through using the People programme for developing the potential for scientists from EU12 and by ensuring that education does not become the forgotten side of the Knowledge Triangle by adequately complementing the linkages between research and innovation with research training, including training specifically aimed at women researchers;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Calls on the Commission to integrate the development of the next FP and the process of drawing up a common EU- level strategic framework for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) for the period after 2013 in order to ensure that possible synergies are maximised and that the funds available are used to the greatest extent to enable researchers in Member States that have been underrepresented in the FP7 to achieve excellence;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)

11d. Considers that the achievement of scientific excellence should be considered as an impact that in itself motivates drawing on the funds of Structural and Cohesion Funds in Member States that are underrepresented in the FP;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Christian EHLER, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

2nd Layer: ~~Potential~~Research and co~~nsolid~~llaboration

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. This layer is the space for overall research, fundamental and applied, and social sciences and humanities; coordination participants are universities and research centres/institutes, ~~although the industrial sector should be encouraged to participate~~in close cooperation with the industrial sector;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. The key words here are originality, quality and potential of projects, ~~and not only~~but also the possible marketed results;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Christian EHLER, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Recalls that the European Research Council (ERC) has proved to be successful and a strengthening element of the European Research Area (ERA); stresses the need to increase the proportion of the budget dedicated to grants to young researchers, as well to strengthen Marie Curie actions and initiatives, thus reinforcing mobility; calls for the implementation of the necessary measures to ~~cope with the precarious~~improve the conditions of scientific workers in the EU as a means to attract and retain researchers, ~~bearing in mind that precarious working conditions (which are still more prevalent for women) constitute a bottleneck on the way~~in order to achiev~~ing~~e excellence in Europe;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. This layer is the space for marketing of products and services and generation of public wealth; innovative industry, especially SMEs play a pivotal role here in developing novel products ~~and~~, services, processes, etc;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Stresses that increased participation by SMEs needs appropriate funding instruments that respond to their specificities~~, including an increased margin of the tolerable risk of error~~; within this scenario soft loans should be considered, which are reimbursed in the event of success, excluding administrative costs;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Highlights the importance of shorter and predictable time-to-grant periods for SME participation;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Takes the view that not all innovation is research-based and that not all research has innovation as its goal; believes in consequence that the proposed reorganisation should cover the full ~~innovation cycle, from concept to market~~spectrum of activities related to innovation, including non-technological, eco- and social innovation, and bearing in mind that innovation is frequently a commercially-driven process;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Strongly encourages the implementation of training programmes for all potential participants, particularly on the application of management rules, and calls on the Commission to develop criteria for the selection, evaluation and assessment of projects, bearing in mind the ~~stairways to~~criterion of excellence;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Christian EHLER, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Stresses that simplification of the FP requires a quantum leap and calls for the implementation of all identified simplification measures in the new FP;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Favours moving towards a ’science- and innovation/result-based’ approach and calls for a trust-based and risk-tolerant attitude towards participants at all stages of the funding system;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Lena EK, Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Proposes that overhead costs for projects under the next FP should be limited to 10%; considers that pre-review levels of 25% of overhead spending in FP7 are intolerable given the overall budget restraints;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24b. Stresses that efforts should be made to align spending within the new FP as far as possible with the overarching policy objectives under the Europe 2020 strategy and to integrating the research base;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)

24c. Calls for measures to decrease time- to-grant targeted at improving the percentage of grants signed in less than six months during the next FP;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Believes that procedures of competitive calls for additional partners should be based on the basic premise that the business and researchers involved have the deepest knowledge of the project and which partner it needs best and that rather than forcing them to follow the ranking lists of the evaluation experts, the Commission should evaluate a written justification of the consortium's choice;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Calls for a continued rigorous implementation of the 40% target for female participation in Programme and Advisory Committees; highlights the importance of boosting female participation throughout project lifecycles with particular attention to overcoming gender-specific obstacles which women face;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Believes that the programmes should be opened up to international partners; highlights that the basic principle should be that all programmes should be open for financing also of foreign groupings (given specific competencies); rejects the notion that the Commission would be better placed than researchers to determine the choice of cooperation partners;

2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Recall~~Believes that ~~the~~ agricultur~~al sector can~~e is well placed to make a major contributeion to ~~further mitigat~~tackling climate change, ~~and the CAP post 2013 is expected to enhance this contribution; notes, however, that, in the longer run, the emission reduction potential of agriculture is rather limited compared to other sector~~creating new jobs through green growth and supplying renewable energy; stresses that the CAP post 2013 is expected to enhance this contribution; recognises that agriculture has already substantially reduced its emissions through improved production efficiency and notes that the Commission's analysis shows that by 2050 the agriculture sector can reduce non-CO2 emissions by between 42 and 49% compared to 1990- levels;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that clear emission targets will stimulate the necessary early investments in R&D, demonstration and deployment of low-emitting technologies and that defining a long-term strategy is paramount to ensuring that the EU is on track for achieving its agreed objective of reducing emissions by 2050; calls on the Commission to propose mid-term emission reduction objectives for 2030 and 2040 for all relevant sectors, including agriculture; these targets should follow a linear trajectory between current emissions levels, the 2020 objective and the 95% reductions are to be made until 2050;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Lena EK, Britta REIMERS, George LYON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that emission mitigation efforts are expected to increase demand for bio- energy ~~and~~; stresses th~~at agriculture is not part of the problem but a solution to it, being a producer of biomass and biofuel~~e great potential of the agriculture sector to contribute to the Europe 2020-strategy by increasing the production of sustainable energy, such as biomass and biofuels, thereby creating new jobs in rural areas;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that ~~the~~, as the world's arable land decreases, while the population increases, action on climate change and the need to ensure global food security are dual challenges which need to be pursued together; recognises that the EU must respond to these challenges by taking the lead in developing a new model of agriculture based on sustainable intensification techniques that increase production while reducing the use of scarce resources of water, energy and land;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Lena EK, Britta REIMERS, George LYON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that ~~careful,~~an internationally concerted approach ~~is needed since EU agriculture is prone to carbon leakage, in particular through the asymmetric phase- in of a carbon price~~towards a global climate agreement is needed, so as to ensure a level playing field with agricultural sectors in other economies;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that ~~in order to ensure th~~the Commission should emphasise cohe~~sion~~rence between ~~the common policies, any new regulation or standard imposed on agricultural producers by any policy, e.g. animal welfare, should not compromise the low carbon economy targets~~policies, such as industry, research, energy, biodiversity, trade, development, agriculture, innovation, transport and the Europe 2020 strategy; sound and strategic management of the agricultural sector's potential, coupled with real reform of the internal market, would put Europe well on its way to becoming a competitive player in tomorrow's low carbon global economy;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for the necessary measures, including research funding, education efforts, investment aid and other incentive based initiatives, in the CAP that would support and enable the use of agricultural and forestry residue in the production of sustainable energy;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls for the CAP to include targets for the use of sustainable energy; believes that the agriculture sector could use 40% renewable fuels by 2020 and be fossil free by 2030;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Calls for the 30% greening component of the direct payments to be used as an EU-wide incentivisation scheme targeted at enhancing sustainability by improving both resource and production efficiency, making EU agriculture more competitive, in line with the Commission's 'Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050';

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Lena EK, Marit PAULSEN, Britta REIMERS, George LYON, Liam AYLWARD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Notes that there is a~~Deplores the fact that too much agricultural waste is currently not used to its full potential; considers that agricultural waste should be seen as an asset; calls on the Commission and Member States to put forward national strategies on the need for better management of bio-waste and of agriculture and forestry by- products;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Marit PAULSEN, Lena EK, George LYON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Already with the knowledge and techniques available today agricultural holdings may become self-sufficient in energy with the possibility to both increase profitability and create environmental gains through the local production of bio-energy from organic waste;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that the potential framework from the Commission for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) should avoid excessive regulation, which could undermine the EU's possibilities to reach the climate targets, and, due to Europe's diversity, should respect the principle of subsidiarity and the role of local and national governments;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Lena EK, Britta REIMERS, George LYON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Stresses the need for increased investments in energy infrastructure, such as smart grids and biogas distribution, to be able to handle the increased Cloud Energy production from renewable energy sources;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Supports th~~e financing by~~at EU funds, including the Rural Development Fund, ~~of only energy efficient~~should only fund projects for agricultural facilities that are energy efficient, especially of those applying renewable energy sources which can reduce carbon emissions to a level as far as possible closer to zero;

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2095(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses that ~~more~~increased research isefforts are necessary to develop less energy intensive agricultural methods and more efficient energy production; in that regard welcomes the Commission's proposal to establish a new research framework - Horizon 2020.

2011/07/27
Committee: AGRI

2011/2082(INI)

Olle SCHMIDT, Olle LUDVIGSSON, Gunnar HÖKMARK, Sharon BOWLES, Saïd EL KHADRAOUI, Carl HAGLUND, Anne E. JENSEN, Dan JØRGENSEN, Lena EK, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Underlines that non-profit-making organisations play a vital and very beneficial role for democracy, growth and prosperity in Europe; calls on the Commission to propose a mechanism allowing Member States wishing to strengthen civil society to generally exempt from VAT all or most of the activities and transactions carried out by these organisations; stresses that at least the smaller non-profit-making organisations should be covered by such a mechanism;

2011/07/05
Committee: ECON

2011/2082(INI)

Olle SCHMIDT, Olle LUDVIGSSON, Gunnar HÖKMARK, Sharon BOWLES, Saïd EL KHADRAOUI, Carl HAGLUND, Anne E. JENSEN, Dan JØRGENSEN, Lena EK, Marian HARKIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Calls on the Commission to look carefully into the issue of further reducing VAT red tape for non-profit- making organisations; underlines that there should be a higher degree of flexibility in the VAT system for Member States wishing to take ambitious measures in order to ease the VAT administration burden for these organisations;

2011/07/05
Committee: ECON

2011/2069(INI)

Draft opinion
Citation 1 a (new)

- having regard to Article 2 and Article 3(3), second subparagraph, of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Citation 1 b (new)

- having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21 and 23,

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Citation 1 c (new)

- having regard to the European Pact for Gender Equality (2011-2020) adopted by the European Council in March 2011,

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Citation 1 d (new)

- having regard to the recommendation by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation (CM/Rec(2010) 5) and the recommendation (1915) and resolution (1728) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the same topic,

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Citation 1 e (new)

- having regard to the Commission's Communication on the Strategy for the effective implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the European Union of 19.10.2010 COM(2010) 573 final,

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Citation 1 f (new)

- having regard to the Council of Europe's Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence of 7 April 2011 (CM(2011)49 final),

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Citation 1 g (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 5 April 2011 on priorities and outline of a new EU policy framework to fight violence against women1,

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph A

~~A. whereas the judicial authorities of Member States are independent and may determine their own interpretation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights,~~deleted

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph A a (new)

A a. whereas the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon created a new situation in the EU in the field of human rights by making the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding (Article 6 TEU),

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph A b (new)

A b. whereas equality between men and women is recognised as a fundamental right by the Charter and all types of discrimination should be fought against,

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph A c (new)

A c. whereas Gender Equality Directives require Member States to establish or designate equality bodies to promote equality, including providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination,

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Affirms the need to increase efforts at communicating that the scope of the Charter of Fundamental Rights does not apply to breaches of fundamental rights unless there is a connection to Union law and that only violations of peoples' rights by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and by the Member States when they are implementing EU law are covered;deleted

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Affirms Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union founding the Union on a community of indivisible and universal values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, solidarity, the rule of law and respect for human rights, for all persons on the territory of the European Union, including those belonging to minorities;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Welcomes the first annual report of the Commission on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental rights; welcomes the conclusions of the Council, especially on its commitment to fulfil EU ambitions on gender equality as mentioned in the Treaty;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Draws attention to the fact that although the Charter promotes the equality of men and women and in addition has specific provisions on the maintenance or adoption of measures providing for specific advantages in favour of the under-represented sex, positive discrimination also creates victims and that it is essential to avoid all types of discrimination as it is morally wrong;deleted

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Recalls that Article 23 of the Charter states that "Equality between men and women must be ensured in all areas, including employment, work and pay; The principle of equality shall not prevent the maintenance or adoption of measures providing for specific advantages in favour of the under-represented sex stresses that "this in no way undermines the rights of other under represented groups such as children (Article 24), the elderly (Article 25), persons with disabilities (Article 26); additionally highlights that Article 21 of the Charter clearly states the prohibition of any discrimination against others, persons with generic features, or based on sexual orientation;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Underlines that women are the main victims of gender based violence; points out that violence and the threat of violence constitute a breach one's right to life, safety, freedom, dignity and physical and emotional integrity and a serious threat to the physical and mental health of the victims of such violence, underlines that the effects of such violence, being so widespread throughout the European Community, constitute a genuine fundamental rights violation and health scourge and an obstacle to the enjoyment of all people of safe, free and just citizenship;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Takes note of the Commission's victims package; regrets that violence against women is not adequately taken into account; calls on the Commission to launch a comprehensive policy approach against gender based violence and to launch a Directive addressing combating and eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls in all EU Member States;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Member States to make active use of civic bodies and relevant NGOs, such as women's organisations, as their expertise is invaluable to understand the most contentious issues and the situation of the most vulnerable groups in society, identify existing gaps, key trends and structural problems in the area of fundamental rights and to fully respect national cultures and diversity;deleted

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. In order to avoid over-expectations and misunderstandings, calls on the Commission to inform better the citizens of their rights as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights but also about the scope of the Charter; recalls in this view the importance of the European e-justice Portal ; calls in addition on the Member States to increase awareness of the Charter among the civil society, through a continuous dialogue with relevant non- governmental organisations, and women's organizations in particular, as their expertise is invaluable with regards to stereotypes and discrimination since it is a fact through time, that women have been the most common and vulnerable victims;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Highlights, in the context of fundamental rights and discrimination, the need to bear in mind that, hidden behind the veil of neutrality, the conceptual framework and the reasoning processes of law may perpetuate stereotypes and can underpin and maintain sexual difference instead of dismantling sex-based disadvantages;deleted

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Highlights the need to support the alleviation of all stereotypes and discriminatory behaviours via special programs, actions and campaigns involving Member States, social partners , NGO’s, institutions and parliamentarians;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Requests that in its forthcoming annual reports on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union or in its accompanying documents, the Commission include specific data on how many women and how many men wrote the letters, questions and petitions receivdeleted;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Regrets the relatively poor quality of data collected by equality bodies in some Members States, lacking disaggregation by ground of discrimination such as sex and age, or by thematic area, such as employment and education ; recalls the important role of the Fundamental Rights Agency in the collection and analysis of objective, reliable and comparable data on a variety of fundamental rights issues in the European Union;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Calls on the Commission to better communicate on the type of complaints, letters, questions and petitions received from citizens concerning the application of the Charter; welcomes any concrete information on gender based discrimination complaints provided by the Commission to the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament for further analysis; requests that the Commission largely communicates its forthcoming annual reports on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union, so as to increase awareness of the need for actions to combat democratic deficits and breaches of fundamental rights;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

~~6. Calls for an audit of unfulfilled and outstanding pre-accession commitments that result in a breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by states that entered the EU in 2004 and 2007.~~deleted

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2069(INI)

Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU, Ulrike LUNACEK, Lena EK, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls on the Commission to find effective ways to follow up breaches of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, outstanding issues and specific cases of violations of fundamental rights and to carry out occasional audits in all Member States to identify unfulfilled commitments;

2011/09/07
Committee: FEMM

2011/2067(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the importance of a free and intelligently regulated internet for new entrepreneurs and job creators; considers that internet users’ confidence in the system and their trust that its integrity will not be compromised is crucial for new internet business models;

2011/06/23
Committee: ITRE

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK, Vincenzo IOVINE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Supports the analysis provided by the Commission with regard to agricultural products in the context of global food security, with diminishing global food reserves and increasing hunger, and ~~from a~~as regards market perspectives, underlining the extreme price volatility in food and feed, prices and the imperfections of the food and feed chains; a~~nd the role of~~lso recognises that financial instruments ~~and speculative behaviour as~~might prove useful to mitigate the effects of market instability as c~~ause of~~ ould regulation against ab~~ility~~usive speculative behaviour;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK, Sylvie GOULARD, Vincenzo IOVINE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes the lack of evidence there is to establish a systematic link between financial speculation and long-term price trends of food commodities and agricultural raw materials; considers, therefore, that a thorough analysis aiming at gaining a better understanding of the multiple factors that affect short and long-term food commodities and agricultural raw materials price trends could provide a useful basis for adopting adequate measures to mitigate the effects of extreme price volatility;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK, Sylvie GOULARD, Vincenzo IOVINE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Asks the Commission, together with other international bodies, to refine their analysis on the causes explaining market fluctuations and seek greater clarity on the interactions between speculation and agricultural markets, as well as energy markets and food commodities prices; Stresses that those steps should be taken as part of the efforts to regulate the financial markets at global and EU level;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. With regard to food security, supports the finding of the Communication that ~~without a Common Agricultural Policy and a direct support mechanism, European agriculture is unlikely to survive~~a strong agricultural sector is vital for the highly competitive food industry to remain an important part of the EU economy; agrees, furthermore, that the EU does and should continue to play a role in ensuring sufficient food for a growing world population; is therefore supportive of a strategy on raw materials and commodities that is based on an integrated approach which encompasses agricultural, financial, trade, environmental and development policy concerns;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Lena EK, George LYON, Marit PAULSEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Emphasize the importance of phosphorus to the agricultural sector; calls on the Commission to put forward a Strategy on Phosphorus, which should include initiatives on resource-efficiency, recycling and a life cycle approach to the sustainability of fertilizers;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Lena EK, Sylvie GOULARD, George LYON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Stresses that successful EU policies on raw materials must be tied into Europe’s policies on industry, research, energy, biodiversity, trade, development, agriculture, innovation, transport and the Europe 2020 strategy; sound and strategic management of raw materials, coupled with real reform of the internal market, would put Europe well on its way to becoming a competitive player in tomorrow's global economy;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Lena EK, George LYON, Marit PAULSEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Reaffirms its commitment to free and fair trade, which is a prerequisite for European farmers to get access to raw materials and energy;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK, Marit PAULSEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Insists, in line with the Commission, that the international community must adopt a long-term coordinated approach for global food security, including increased research efforts and investment in the agricultural sector in developing countries, notably through development policy priorities in order to increase resilience and adaptability to food shocks;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reaffirms its support for a system of global food reserves, under the aegis of the UN system of institutions, and believes the EU should play a leading role in promoting this initiative; is supportive of the recent efforts undertaken by the G20 towardsSupports the recent efforts undertaken by the G20 on policy responses to price volatility in food and agricultural markets, including more information exchange in food production forecasts and a system of food emergency reserves;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Lena EK, George LYON, Sylvie GOULARD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Commission to include incentive based initiatives in the CAP and the raw materials strategy aimed at unlocking the full potential of farmers to increase their production of sustainable energy, which is currently underexploited; thereby creating new rural jobs and adding an additional revenue stream to the income of farmers;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Welcomes the joint communiqué of the 3rd Berlin agriculture ministers' Summit of 22 January 2011 signed by 48 countries which called for an improved ability of agricultural markets to function properly and recognised the importance of trade to create a balance between the different actors in agricultural markets and to improve farmers' access to raw materials and energy;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Expects the raw materials strategy to align with the Europe 2020 strategy priorities of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth; believes that the proposals should include the agriculture sector's use of raw materials, soil and water resources;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Lena EK, George LYON, Marit PAULSEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Reiterates its commitment to tackling extreme price volatility, given market behaviour in the case of agricultural commodities; recalls the fact that the market for agricultural products is structurally volatile, with seasonality of production, climatic events and other factors that prevent producers from adapting to demand fluctuations in a short time; recalls that agriculture is a sector of strategic interest and that ~~its functioning may not be left only to market forces; stresses that~~the raw materials strategy should emphasize better market access for farmers; stresses that reforms in the food chain should aim at making sure higher prices for agricultural commodities ~~rarely~~ result in higher incomes for farmers;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK, Sylvie GOULARD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. With regard to financial instruments, ~~support~~notes the recent Commission proposals on regulating OTC derivatives and on public consultation on the MiFID Directive; ~~believes that~~requests that the Commission investigate whether limiting speculative behaviour on derivatives markets for commodities should be limited; supports in this context the measures requiring additional information that contributes to market transparency and the proposal for position limits, both aimed at limiting massive speculative behaviouagricultural commodities would result in reduced price volatility; is in favour of increased transparency and effective regulation of financial markets ; asks the Commission for an evaluation regarding future derivatives and commodities regulation as to whether separate regulation is needed for the agricultural commodities, given the specificity of the sector;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Recalls that commodity derivatives markets initially fulfilled the purpose of hedging against risk, as well as providing the possibility of raising funding from the market, both of which serve the interests of farmers; notes ~~with concern,~~ however, that most investors now have no direct link to agriculture and that the number of contracts concluded exceeds many times the global production of food, p~~aving the way for~~otentially contributing to creating the conditions for the development of speculative bubbles;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

George LYON, Lena EK, Marit PAULSEN, Sylvie GOULARD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Deplores the fact that too much agricultural waste is currently not used to its full potential; considers that agricultural waste should be seen as an asset and therefore asks the Commission to investigate new means of using it as raw materials for other sectors;

2011/05/31
Committee: AGRI

2011/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Notes the importance of establishing the raw materials strategy within the wider context of climate change, while boosting overall resource-efficiency and recycling; stresses that by reducing EU consumption of primary raw materials we can decrease our relative import- dependency;

2011/04/18
Committee: ITRE

2011/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Calls for the Raw Materials Strategy to be coherent with other important European policies, especially within industry, research, environment, transport and Europe 2020;

2011/04/18
Committee: ITRE

2011/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Stresses the importance of the Barents Region as a producer of natural resources and a supplier of essential raw materials, such as minerals, metals and forestry products, for European and international markets;

2011/04/18
Committee: ITRE

2011/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22b. Calls on the Commission to include a comprehensive approach to improving transport infrastructure in its ambition to bring European raw materials to producers;

2011/04/18
Committee: ITRE

2011/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Stresses that EU's trade policy on raw materials should be based on free trade and ensure that developing countries can benefit from international trade in raw materials;

2011/04/18
Committee: ITRE

2011/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

- having regard to the Communication from the Commission, ‘A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050’ (COM(2011)0112),

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 5 May 2010 on an evaluation and assessment of the Animal Welfare Action Plan 2006- 20101,

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the "Roadmap for moving to a low-carbon economy by 2050" highlights the great potential of agriculture to contribute to the Europe 2020-strategy and for farmers to add an additional revenue stream to their income by increasing their production of sustainable energy, thereby creating new jobs and contributing to solve the climate crises,

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Sylvie GOULARD, Giommaria UGGIAS, Lena EK, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas there should not be any differentiation in the treatment of farmers according to size of holding and legal form for the purpose of direct payments, although the possibility of introducing a basic allowance for small farmers should not be excluded,deleted

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas rural development is an important instrument of the CAP and whereas the new programmes should be geared even more strongly to the priority objectives of rural development and of farmers (employment, the agricultural environment, water, energy production, climate change, innovation and education),

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Richard ASHWORTH, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Vincenzo IOVINE, Giommaria UGGIAS, Lena EK, Carl HAGLUND, Anne E. JENSEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Expects the re-design of the CAP to align with the EU 2020 Strategy priorities of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth; Believes that agriculture is well placed to make a major contribution to tackling climate change, creating new jobs through green growth and supplying renewable energy whilst at the same time continuing to provide safe, high quality food products and food security for European consumers;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Sylvie GOULARD, Vincenzo IOVINE, Lena EK, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Insists, in line with the Commission Communication, that direct payments be distributed to active farmers only, defined according to appropriate objective and non-discriminatory criteria granting the possibility of support to all natural or legal persons whose agricultural activity forms a significant part of their economic activities, or whose principal business or company object consists of exercising an agricultural activity, in line with Article 28(2) of Regulation EC No. 73/2009;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Does not believe that the Commission's proposal to introduce an upper ceiling for direct payments would deliver its objectives as it would simply result in the administrative splitting up of large agricultural holdings for pure accountancy purposes; is of the opinion that a degree of degression in the amounts large-scale farms receive from the basic direct payments could be envisaged;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses the need for an adequate basic allowance for small farmers, which Member States can optionally determine in those Member States where these farms help to stabilise rural development; calls for these Member States to decide, in accordance with subsidiarity, what percentage of the direct payments to be incorporated in the new subsidy system should be made available to their small farmers; stresses, however, that this must not hamper the necessary structural change;deleted

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls for the introduction of a second-tier of direct payments consisting of 25 to 30% of the basic direct payments in each Member State to be used as an EU-wide incentivisation scheme targeted at enhancing sustainability by improving both resource and production efficiency, making EU agriculture more competitive, in line with the recently published Commission's 'Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050';

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Calls for a list of EU agreed measures to be established that will deliver the above-mentioned sustainability element of the first pillar with the twin- objective of enhancing farm environmental sustainability throughout Europe while improving farm competitiveness2; __________________ 2 See Annex 2 for an indicative list of measures

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Calls for Member States, on a compulsory basis, to choose at least 2 to 3 measures from that EU list according to their priorities; Notes that in order to take account of the diversity of agricultural practices, productions, and ecosystems which characterises some of the Member States, the choice of measures may differ in different regions within a Member State;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Richard ASHWORTH, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)

14d. Believes that the EU has a role to play in meeting the challenges of food security and energy security, and therefore needs to ensure that agriculture plays a full role in meeting both these challenges; Believes therefore, that it is inappropriate for compulsory set-aside to be included in the list of sustainability measures as proposed by the Commission;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Vincenzo IOVINE, Giommaria UGGIAS, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)

14e. Calls, however, for farmers to have the freedom to opt in to the measures if they want to receive the sustainability payment, and there will be no additional penalties if they choose not to;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Vincenzo IOVINE, Giommaria UGGIAS, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 f (new)

14f. Believes that any controls put in place to check the implementation of the payments received under the sustainability top-up should be accommodated within the current integrated agricultural control system (IACS), so as to avoid the duplication of control systems under pillar 1, and that when on-farm checks are necessary, they take place at the same time as the checks already carried out for cross-compliance requirements and direct payments entitlements, or at the same time as checks on compliance with agri- environmental measures under pillar 2;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Considers that decoupling has essentially proved its worth, ~~given the increased effect on income and~~allowing greater autonomy in decision-making on the part of farmers and the associated simplification of the CAP, and calls for this also, in general, to apply to suckler cow and sheep premiums; recognises, however, that in certain sectors and regions such as mountain regions, where there are no alternatives to relatively labour-intensive livestock farming, there may be considerable economic and environmental drawbacks which cannot be reconciled with the aims of the Treaty; acknowledges, therefore, that production- based premiums might be defensible within a narrowly defined framework for a limited period even after 2013, ensuring farmers respond to market signals, placing the vast bulk of the CAP into WTO green box and the associated simplification of the CAP, therefore calls for decoupling to continue to apply as a general guiding principle for direct payments;

2011/03/21
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Calls for the CAP to include targets for the use of sustainable energy; believes that the agriculture sector could use 40% renewable fuels by 2020 and be fossil free by 2030;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Calls for necessary measures within the CAP that would support research, education efforts, etc, with the goal of enabling the use of agricultural residues in the production of sustainable energy, thereby adding an additional revenue stream to the income of farmers;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Richard ASHWORTH, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)

27c. Believes that genuine efforts are being made to simplify the system and reduce the administrative red-tape placed on farmers; calls however for a simplified, more proportionate and risk-based approach by the Commission and Member States to the implementation of regulatory controls, the conduct of compliance audits and the system of penalties;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Richard ASHWORTH, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Considers that the health check approach should be pursued further, as these existing market instruments have also demonstrated their value as a safety net; takes the view that these market measures, and in particular intervention, should only be used as a minimum safety net in case of extreme price crises and ~~potential~~major market disruption;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Sylvie GOULARD, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS, Lena EK, Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Acknowledges that in the WTO negotiations the EU has offered to abolish export refunds, albeit with the proviso that other trading partners (particularly the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) also bring their export support into line with WTO rules; calls for the EU likewise to formulate a system for export credits which complies with WTO rulesReaffirms the EU commitment to phase-out export refunds by 2013 if this move is reflected in WTO partners abandoning in parallel similar measures and measures having equivalent effect, in particular the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Liam AYLWARD, Giommaria UGGIAS, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Advocates that the 2006 sugar market reform be ~~extend~~reviewed toin 20~~20 in its existing form in order to develop a system for the subsequent period which can operate without quotas~~15 with a view to bringing in further reforms by 2020;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Richard ASHWORTH, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Giommaria UGGIAS, Lena EK, Carl HAGLUND, Anne E. JENSEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)

47 a. Calls for measures to be taken to strengthen primary producers' and producer organisations' management capacity and bargaining power vis-à-vis other economic operators in the food chain (primarily retailers, processors and input companies), provided these developments do not hinder the proper functioning of the internal market; takes the view that the functioning of the food supply-chain should be improved, through greater transparency of food prices and action to address unfair commercial practices, enabling farmers to obtain the added value they deserve; believes that the appointment of ombudsmen should be considered with a view to solving disputes between the operators along the food supply-chain;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Richard ASHWORTH, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Marit PAULSEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)

49 b. Believes that Green growth should be at the heart of a new rural development strategy that focuses on creating new opportunities in terms of: - developing rural areas' potential to produce more renewable and sustainable energy from second-generation biofuels, from biomass, agro-materials, agro-waste and the by-products of agriculture; - boosting on-farm small-scale renewable energy production; - investing in innovative techniques as well as projects for applying research and development on farms; - providing technical support and advice to farmers, especially young farmers, in applying new agricultural techniques;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

Marit PAULSEN, Lena EK, Liam AYLWARD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)

49 b. Asks the Commission to establish new financing tools supporting especially farmers entering the agricultural sector in getting access to favourable loans, or a new system, for instance called JERICHO ("Joint Rural Investment CHOice"), for the Rural Development Fund, based on the experience from the JEREMIE initiative under the Structural funds;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 d (new)

49 d. Believes that farmers can actively contribute to biodiversity, landscape management and environmental protection, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation, in a cost- effective way; calls for the CAP to provide the opportunity for the vast bulk of agricultural land to be covered by agri- environmental schemes to further incentivise a majority of farmers for the delivery of additional eco-system services while encouraging more sustainable, lower-input production models such as organic farming, precision farming, the development of high-nature-value farming and sustainable intensive agricultural practices; recalls in this context that the agri-environmental programmes must be designed so as to closely fit national and regional priorities and specificities, and be clearly differentiated from the sustainability element of the first pillar in their objectives, scale and tools;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Advocates in this connection that the compensatory allowance for disadvantaged areas be retained in the second pillar; considers that it should be ascertained what cofinancing rate appears to be appropriate; calls on the Commission to ~~retain the existing criteria for demarcation of disadvantaged areas~~finalise the review of the delimitation of the LFA and to implement these new objective criteria at the latest from the 1st of January 2014;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Calls for a~~brupt changes in the allocation of appropriations in the second pillar to be avoided, as Member States require certainty to enable them to plan and continuity of financing~~ fair redistribution of second pillar funds to be achieved between Member States, according to objective criteria that must reflect the diversity of needs in European rural areas and the different priority objectives to be achieved by different Member States; Advocates for these changes to be achieved after a transition period in parallel with the changes made to first pillar funds distribution and so as to avoid sudden changes that may be disruptive;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2051(INI)

George LYON, Marit PAULSEN, Liam AYLWARD, Sylvie GOULARD, Lena EK, Anne E. JENSEN, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56

56. Welcomes the move towards greater coordination at EU level ~~of EU funds; advocates, however, that the funds be preserved as politically autonomous instrument~~between rural development programmes and cohesion policy in particular, with a view to avoiding duplication, contradictory objectives and overlapping; recalls however, that the scale of the projects under EU cohesion policy and rural development programmes is different and therefore advocates for the funds to remain distinct and for rural development programmes to maintain their focus on rural communities;

2011/03/22
Committee: AGRI

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas spending should be aligned as far as possible with the overarching policy objectives under the Europe 2020 strategy,

2011/03/23
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas FP7 should be modelled on the same general principles as ERA,

2011/03/23
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Highlights in particular the ten specific recommendations made by the expert group and urgently calls for the implementation of these proposals;

2011/03/23
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Proposes that overhead costs for FP7 projects should be limited to 10%; considers that pre-review levels of 25% of overhead spending are intolerable given the overall budget restraints;

2011/03/23
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls for new calls for proposals on how to optimise the use of biogas, such as gasification, the use of new biomaterials and on the optimisation of biogas production;

2011/03/23
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Proposes that an ambitious European research plan for technology and defence be adopted between the Union and the Member States and receive significant initial financing from FP7 and the European Defence Agency on the basis of Article 45(d) of the EU Treaty, with a view to enhancing the industrial and technological base of the defence sector while at the same time improving the efficiency of military public spending;deleted

2011/03/23
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Believes that the procedures of competitive calls for additional partners should be based on the basic premise that the companies and researchers involved have the deepest knowledge of the project and which partner it needs best and that, rather than forcing them to follow the ranking lists of the evaluation experts, the Commission should evaluate a written justification of the consortium's choice.

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the results of FP7 in favour of SMEs, as regards both the 15% target set in the ‘Cooperation’ chapter and the ‘Eurostars’ programme; highlights the importance of shorter and predictable time-to-grant periods for SME participation; is of the opinion that better coordination between FP7 and the Structural Funds could facilitate the participation of under-represented Member States;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Highlights the pivotal role of Research infrastructures (RIs) for the Knowledge Triangle and calls for coherence between what is funded in different areas; calls for efforts to boost RIs within FP7, especially where there is the greatest scope for added value at European level;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Stresses the importance of improving participation from Member States that are underrepresented, such as through using the People programme for developing the potential for scientists from EU12 and by ensuring that education does not become the forgotten side of the Knowledge Triangle by adequately complementing the linkages between research and innovation with research training, including training specifically aimed at women researchers;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

~~17. Proposes that research and development policies be territorialis~~deleted;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Calls for rigorous implementation of the 40% target for female participation in Programme and Advisory Committees; highlights the importance of boosting female participation throughout project lifecycles with particular attention to overcoming gender-specific obstacles which women face;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Believes that the programmes should be opened up to international partners; highlights that the basic principle should be that all programmes should be open for financing also of foreign groupings (given specific competencies); rejects the notion that the Commission would be better placed than researchers to determine the choice of cooperation partners;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Takes the view that FP7 should affirm its international cooperation priorities; is of the opinion that the choice of specific target countries and subjects for enhanced international cooperation actions must be made in consultation with the Member States in order to confirm the relevance and benefit of these actions for them; highlights however the weakness of strategically very important partners such as the BRIC countries;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Stresses that all research conducted within the FP7 must be conducted in accordance with fundamental rights as expressed in the European Charter; therefore, strongly urges the Commission to immediately make all documents related to INDECT (a research project funded by the FP7 aimed at developing an automated observation system that constantly monitors web sites, surveillance cameras and individual computer systems) available and to define a clear and strict mandate for the research goal, the application and the end users of INDECT; stresses that before a thorough investigation on the possible impacts on fundamental rights is made, INDECT should not receive funding from the FP7;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Takes the view that the level of financing of FP7 must be at least maintained and recalls that investment in RDI is long-term investment and is key to achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Stresses that efforts should be made to align spending as far as possible with the overarching policy objectives under the Europe 2020 strategy and to integrate the research base;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

Stresses that simplification requires a quantum leap and calls for the immediate implementation of identified short term simplification measures;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Calls for measures to decrease time- to-grant targeted at improving the percentage of grants signed in less than eight months by a certain percentage in 2011 and less than six months during the remaining period;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2043(INI)

Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Warmly welcomes the recommendations to shorten the timeframe for adjudication and ~~establish a moratorium on~~calls for a better analysis of what is already there before the creation of any new instruments within the framework of FP7;

2011/03/24
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas smart grids ~~and meters~~ provide an important opportunity to establish an efficient relationship between energy production, energy transmission and users, therefore increasing energy efficiency,

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas long authorisation procedures and a lack of coordination between administrative bodies ~~have~~can resulted in major delays and additional costs, especially in cross-border projects,

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas ~~market-based tools~~lengthy permitting and lack of cost-allocation methodologies are considered the major barriers to the development of infrastructure projects, market-based tools and the user-pay principle must remain the basis for financing energy infrastructure, and whereas a limited amount of public finance may be required to fund certain projects of European interest which are not strictly commercially viable,

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that there should be ~~a greater~~ focus on internal transmission systems that significantly contribute to the integration of energy markets and to putting an end to energy islands and transmission bottlenecks;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses that fostering the building of transmission and distribution infrastructure for efficient and intelligent integration of renewable energy as well as integration of new electricity uses, notably electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, is critical for the successful achievement of overall energy objectives and welcomes the priority given to the North Sea grid as an essential element of a future European super-grid; asks the Commission to consult all relevant stakeholders with a view to speeding up the identification of electricity highways and to present an outline to the European Parliament by 2014;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS, Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Underlines that as the integration of renewable energy could create local unbalances, we need to find new, efficient and flexible ways to operate and maintain electric networks. In this matter, points out the crucial role of smart grids and flexible distribution in improving the cost- effectiveness of renewable generation and micro-generation;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Endorses the importance of efficient gas infrastructures in enhancing diversification and security of supply and reducing energy dependence while respecting the need to drastically reduce emissions from the energy sector by 2050; highlights the need for additional flexibility requirements in gas infrastructures, in particular with a view to ensuring reverse flows, and stresses that gas infrastructure should be developed, with full account being taken of the contribution of LNG/ CNG terminals;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Considers that the development of infrastructure for sustainable unconventional gas sources has not yet been given the necessary attention by the Commission as regards legal issues, life cycle assessment and environmental impacts; asks the Commission to conduct a thorough evaluation on this issue;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Emphasises the importance of infrastructure at distribution level and the role that prosumers and distribution system operators (DSOs) play during the integration of decentralised energy products into the system; underlines that not giving a higher priority to demand- side management would considerably undermine the integration of decentralised energy sources and would undermine the achievement of overall energy policy objectives;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Krišjānis KARIŅŠ, Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Urges the Commission to present by 2012 concrete initiatives to promote the development of energy storage capacities (including multi-use gas/hydrogen facilities, hydropower, high-temperature solar, electric vehicles and other technologies);

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Considers that the roll out of Smart Grids is a matter of urgency, without them, the integration of distributed renewable generation, electric cars and the improvement of energy consumption efficiency, which are basic for the achievement of the European objectives 20-20-20, will not be possible;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Stresses that the roll-out of smart grids should be one of the priorities of the energy infrastructures as it will help to reduce energy dependence by increasing energy efficiency, reducing extreme peak prices and developing electric system flexibility and capacity;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Emphasises the need for demand- side management to ensure the deployment of smart grid technologies and demand-response systems; further underlines that smart grid benefits will be fully achieved only if all stakeholders are becoming smart grid ready; therefore stresses the need to promote the development of users-friendly technologies;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Krišjānis KARIŅŠ, Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Believes that smart grids and energy management solutions offer a unique opportunity to boost the competitiveness of European industry, with particular reference to SMEs, and boost innovation and employment; calls on the Commission to present a new proposal which includes a binding requirement to deploy smart meters for all non-residential customers by 2014;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Notes the need to create a stable regulatory framework in order to promote the very large investment needed in Europe to establish Smart Grids;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Stresses that grids should be adapted for new entrants, in order to facilitate small-scale new production sources, such as households and SMEs;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Points out the need to prepare and adapt the grid for energy production such as electricity and biogas from agriculture and forestry sources as a result of a reformed CAP;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)

20c. Considers that attention should be given to new technological solutions for the use of waste energy from industry i.e. flared gas, waste heat, etc.;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. UStresses that smart grids standardisation and interoperability shall be a priority; urges the Members States, in liaison with European standardisation bodies and industry; to speed up work on technical standards for electric vehicles and smart grids and meters, with a view to its completion by 2012; emphasises that technologies should be based on open international standards so as to ensure their cost-effectiveness, which will enhance the interoperability of the systems as well as to provide consumers with choices in terms of solutions;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Edit HERCZOG, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Welcomes the work carried out by the European Electric Grid Initiative (EEGI) and the Commission's Smart Grids Task Force; calls on the Commission to take outmost account of their conclusions on the specific legislation for smart grids that will be taken during the first half of 2011;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Krišjānis KARIŅŠ, Edit HERCZOG, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Points out that Member States are already obliged to roll out smart meters for at least 80% of their final consumers by 2020; underlines that smart meters will enable consumers to effectively monitor and control their energy consumption; stresses that Member States should support a sufficient number of pilot projects for residential consumers in order to boost the innovation process, as provided for in the third energy market package; calls for clear rules concerning privacy and data protection to be established in accordance with existing EU law;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Calls upon the Commission to assess whether any further legislative initiatives for smart grid implementation are necessary under the rules of third internal energy market package; considers that the assessment must take into account the following objectives: i) ensuring the adequate open access and sharing of operational information between actors and their physical interfaces; ii) creating a well functioning energy services market; and iii) providing proper incentives for grid operators to invest in smart technologies for smart grids;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – introductory part

24. Stresses that the market, including transmission system operators, have the main responsibility for the planning of investments in energy infrastructure. Additional measures to tackle market failures must be complementary to the tools of the third internal energy market package; thus a complementary method for selection of projects of European interest (PEIs) should be conducted on the basis of objective and transparent criteria and with the involvement of all stakeholders; stresses that all PEIs should contribute to achieving EU energy policy objectives and considers that the following criteria shcould ~~be mandatory~~form the basis as long as the role of the market as the key driver is ensured:

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 2

– their necessity must be demonstrated on the basis of the infrastructure hierarchy, i.e. energy efficiency should be seen as the first option thus reducing the need for energy infrastructure,

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS, Edit HERCZOG, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 3

– they must be in line with long term climate and environmental objectives,

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Urges the Commission to, in close cooperation with the European Data Protection Supervisor, assess the need for additional data protection measures, the roles and responsibilities of different actors concerning access, possession and handling of data, such as ownership, possession and access, read and change rights, and propose, if necessary, adequate regulatory proposals and/or guidelines;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Pilar del CASTILLO VERA, Krišjānis KARIŅŠ, Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS, Edit HERCZOG, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Notes that Smart Grids are a result of the convergence between the electricity and Information and Communications technologies, consequently special attention must be given to the cooperation of the two sectors, such as with regards the efficient use of the radio spectrum across Europe and the understanding of the smart energy functions within the planning of the Future Internet of things; asks the Commission to establish a cooperation plan among the different units involved (DG Research, DG Energy, DG INFSO, etc.) so as to ensure the most coherent and overall efficient way to contribute to the Smart Grids deployment and operation, as a fundamental base for the energy policy activities;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Notes that grid investments are cyclical and should be viewed in a historical perspective; points out that a large amount of the infrastructure built over the past decades to interconnect centralised power plants will become obsolete in the coming years; points out that society will expect the cost of deploying new infrastructure to be optimised through public-private partnerships and the development of innovative financing instruments;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Emphasises that a stable, predictable and appropriate regulatory framework is crucial in order to promote investment; moreover stresses that regulators should foster the implementation of new technologies by creating the necessary market incentives as well as by launching pilot projects;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. ~~Recall~~Highlights the importance of transparent and non-discriminatory tariffs with a view to ensuring appropriate cost allocation for cross-border investments, fair prices for consumers and greater competitiveness;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Welcomes the Commission's initiative to present in 2011 a proposal to address cost allocation of technologically complex or cross-border projects as this is considered one of the main barriers to the development of cross-border infrastructure;

2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE

2011/2025(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Stresses that effective protection of the right to privacy is essential in order to achieve consumer confidence, which is required to unlock the full growth potential of the digital single market;

2011/04/14
Committee: ITRE

2011/2025(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1a. Believes that a digital single market requires common privacy protection coordinated at a European level, in order to encourage cross-border trade and prevent market distortions; Underlines the importance of high protection of sensitive economic data (e.g. credit card numbers, addresses), which is vital for credibility and digital consumption;

2011/04/14
Committee: ITRE

2011/2025(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Reminds the Commission that a prerequisite for a single digital market is that common principles and rules must prevail for both goods and services, as services are an important part of the digital market;

2011/04/14
Committee: ITRE

2011/2025(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Invites~~Calls on the Commission to resist calls for new imprecise broad principles which may cause legal uncertainty, skew competition, erect trade barriers, contravene the presumption of innocence and create additional burdens on controllers without quantifiable benefits in resolving genuine problemsensure that any new principles must be designed to protect the rights of users and that they must be necessary for the achievement of that purpose, proportionate and sufficiently clear to promote legal certainty and fair competition;

2011/04/14
Committee: ITRE

2011/2025(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that the principle of ‘privacy by design’ needs to be expressed in a way that achieves the right to privacy for users, while at the same time ensuring legal certainty for controllers and producers and equal application of the rules across the EU;

2011/04/14
Committee: ITRE

2011/2025(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Recommends that any concrete implementation of ‘privacy by design’ is based on the existing EU model with respect to goods, to ensure~~Welcomes the emphasis placed on the principle of ‘privacy by design’ and calls for it to be implemented in a way that ensures users’ right to privacy and data protection, legal certainty, a level playing field and free movement;

2011/04/14
Committee: ITRE

2011/2025(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Recommends that the Commission considers a possibility for~~Highlights the need for proper enforcement, for example through behavioural sanctions in case of infringement~~, instead of a principle of ‘accountability’~~s;

2011/04/14
Committee: ITRE

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the European Semester process, which is intended to achieve stronger economic governance; believes that successful implementation of the EU 2020 strategy requires substantial, coordinated, transparent and appropriate financial commitments to be made to meeting its priorities at both EU and Member State level and that any limitation in the relevant EU budget appropriations would undermine its achievement;

2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Is deeply concerned about the mismatch of the EU budget political priorities and actual financial allocations, in particular energy policy which represents only 0,5% of the EU budget;

2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that improving the conditions for R&D&I, notably as regards sustainable energy priorities, energy efficiency and storage technologies, resource efficiency and green technologies, is vital to progress towards the goals of the EU 2020 strategy; calls not only for budget ~~increase~~reallocations but also for the introduction of more sustainability criteria in EU R&D&I programmes; in particular to implement the Strategic Energy Technology Plan, as called for in the European Council conclusions of 4 February 2011;

2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Regrets the proposal to reallocate funds from FP7 to the ITER project; recalls that it is imperative to focus on technologies that will be available in the foreseeable future, or are already available, to deliver the EU 2020 goals rather than longer-term projects such as ITER;

2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Believes that clear and ambitious goals in sustainable energy policy, energy efficiency and resource efficiency policy can deliver cost- efficient benefits for the European economy as a whole; calls for the allocation of EU and Member State public and private resources to investments in those priority sectors;

2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that while the economic crisis has lead to a~~n enormous reduction in~~ downturn of industrial production capacities, to a downturn in economic growth and to labour displacement; points out that any loss in GDP must be regarded as a cost in itself, compromising industry's investment potential; warns against the general conclusion thateconomic growth as well as to unemployment, the economic crisis has made emissions reduction cheaper;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that according to the information received from different industrial sectors there are clear indications that existing EU climate policy provisions, such as ETS, are already leading to a relocation of production, and is concerned that higher carbon prices would exacerbate this trend;deleted

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Agrees with the Commission's and the International Energy Agency'’s (IEA) assumption that delaying investments in ~~low-carbon energy technologie~~emission reductions would lead to higher costs at a later stage; ~~considers~~highlights studies showing that, if it is to meet cost- effectively the 2050 long-term target as confirmed once again by the European Council on 4 February 2011, ~~the EU would have to speed up its efforts after having~~merely achieveding 20% emissions reductions in 2020 is insufficient; welcomes, therefore, the Commission'’s intention to draw trajectories designed to achieve long- term targets in the most cost-efficient way as of now;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Deplores the fact that, by subsidising energy prices and applying no restrictions or quotas on CO2 emissions, certain countries are gaining comparative advantages; stresses that, because their CO 2 emissions are unrestricted and thus cheaper, these countries might be less willing to join a multilateral climate change agreement;deleted

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Yannick JADOT, Judith A. MERKIES, Lena EK, Marisa MATIAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Calls for the application of a general principle that the ~~most cost-effective measures to reduce emissions should be taken first~~EU should follow the most cost-effective pathway toward its long-term climate target, while ensuring that promising innovative technologies get support for timely deployment on the market, and avoiding investments that lock the EU into long-term high-carbon emitting infrastructure and installations;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Yannick JADOT, Lena EK, Marita ULVSKOG, Marisa MATIAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Calls for energy efficiency to be one of the priorities in future climate policy measures; acknowledges that achieving the EU's energy efficiency objective of 20% by 2020 would enable the EU to ~~meet its 2020 emissions reduction commitments of 20% and more; consider~~reduce its emissions by 25% domestically by 2020 according to the Commission and by 30% according to other analysis; notes that according to the Commission's ~~impact assessment this~~2050 Roadmap a 25% domestic reduction level would ~~still~~ be on the cost- effective path towards the 80-95% long- term reduction target;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses that the Commissions analysis of the most cost-effective emissions reduction trajectory shows that a pathway less ambitious than 25% by 2020 would result in significantly higher overall costs over the entire period and could lock in carbon intensive investments, resulting in higher carbon prices later on[1]; __________________ [1] Commission Communication entitled ´A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050´ (COM(2011)0112)

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to take the necessary action to ensure that Member States fully implement their energy savings commitments, either by introducing a requirement that National Energy Efficiency Action Plans must be approved by the Commission or by means of further measureestablish a binding energy efficiency target at a European level in the upcoming directive on energy efficiency and savings, in order to ensure that Member States fully implement their energy savings commitments through their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 15

15. Calls for the European emissions trading scheme to be applied in a more flexible manner, so that better account can be taken of actual economic developments and production figures, rather than the scheme being based only on historic data; is convinced that allocation rules should ensure both long- term investment security and make provision for flexibility mechanisms in the event of economic downturns (e.g. to avoid over-allocations);deleted

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 16

16. Draws attention to the increasing importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in reducing carbon emissions, not only in the energy sector; ~~state~~highlights that, according to the IEA CCS roadmap, in 2030 half of all CCS projects will be in the industrial manufacturing sector;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 17

17. Stresses that the development and deployment of breakthrough technologies hold the key to fighting climate change and, at the same time, convincing the EU's partners worldwide that emissions reductions are feasible without losing competitiveness and jobs; considers it essential that Europe should lead by example by substantially increasing expenditure devoted to research on climate-friendly and energy-efficient industrial technologies under the Research Framework Programme and SET-Plan programme;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Highlights the potential for agriculture to make a major contribution to tackling climate change and in particular the potential of using agricultural residues in the production of sustainable energy, thereby adding an additional revenue stream to the income of farmers; believes that the future CAP should be a tool to help Member States reach environmental and climate change targets and that it should help farmers seize the benefits embedded in green growth; believes that the greening component of the CAP must be a part of the direct payments in the first pillar to avoid complicated administrative procedures, ensure that it incentivises farmers' environmental commitments and to secure equal implementation across Member States;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that, according to the Commission's assessment, setting a higher reduction target would lead to a reduction in oil and gas imports of up to EUR 40 billion by 2020 at an assumed oil price of US$ 88 per barrel in 2020; notes that the EU's dependence on energy imports could thus be reduced by up to 56%; further notes that this is an underestimation of current and future oil prices;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 19

19. ~~Note~~Highlights that tightening the ETS reduction target ~~would lead to a~~must be accompanied with ambitious energy efficiency measures in order to mitigate further increases in electricity prices, which would be a major concern for EU industries and for consumers;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 20

20. Notes that in terms of international competitiveness greater EU mitigation efforts would create cost advantages for the EU's international competitors and, at the same time, lead to competitive margins for EU companies in the area of climate technologieEmphasises the potential increase in European competitiveness from innovation and increased investments created as a result of the transformation into a sustainable economy; highlights that greater EU mitigation efforts would lead to competitive margins for EU companies in the area of climate technologies and that the creation of new jobs whilst, in terms of international competitiveness could create cost advantages for the EU's international competitors in some sectors; considers that for the EU's competitors signing up an international agreement would mean giving up the cost advantages, whereas the EU's competitive margin in such sectors would be likely to remain unaffected; therefore asks the Commission to analyse wh~~ether~~at impact a unilateral move by the EU beyond 20% greenhouse gas emissions reductions could ~~serve as an incentive for~~have on other countries willingness to join an international agreement;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 21

21. Stresses that climate-friendly innovation in Europe is necessary to maintain a strong position in a rapidly growing global market for low-carbon technologies; warns against the risks associated with "green jobs leakage" as delays in the creation of an inclusive and sustainable European economy diverts investments and jobs in green sectors to other regions;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Underlines that many countries are moving fast towards a new sustainable economy, for various reasons including climate protection, resource scarcity and efficiency, energy security, innovation or competitiveness; notes in this context the latest Five-Year Plan presented by the Chinese government;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 23

23. States that in accordance with the ETS provisions industry would have to reduce its CO2 emissions by 168 million tonnes by 2020; points out that under the proposed benchmarking provisions a considerable share of the emissions certificates will still have to be purchased by industry, generating substantial costs for EU companies that their global competitors do not have to contend with;deleted

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 24

24. ~~Deplores the fact~~Notes that the additional impact on electricity prices ~~has not been sufficiently reflec~~cannot be addressed through free allocation and, therefore, is not taken into account in the benchmarking exercise and the related in the ~~Commission's assumptions on~~list of sectors considered as exposed to carbon leakage; stresses that 40% of EU electricity is used by industry, which is significantly affected by any increase in the carbon price as a result of the passing-on of costs by the electricity sector; reminds however that Member States were specifically granted the right to use auctioning revenue to mitigate this effect on electro-intensive industries through state aid;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Yannick JADOT, Catherine TRAUTMANN, Lena EK, Marisa MATIAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Points out however that, according to the Commission among others, few industrial sectors are particularly vulnerable to carbon leakage, and considers that identifying these requires a detailed sectoral analysis; calls on the Commission to use such an approach in the near future, rather than a few quantitative criteria that are identical for all sectors of industry;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Yannick JADOT, Catherine TRAUTMANN, Lena EK, Marisa MATIAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 25

25. Notes that carbon price forecasts for the 2020 carbon market vary substantially~~, from €55/tCO2 as assumed in the Commission's calculations, up to €67/tCO2~~ on the basis of a 30% domestic reductions scenario; calls therefore ~~regards the projections drawn up by the Commission as part of the carbon leakage risk assessment as relatively optimistic and unreliable~~on the European Commission to regularly reassess the list of industries considered to be exposed to significant risk of carbon leakage should the EU move to a 30% domestic target;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 26

26. Considers that ~~steps should be taken to ensure that increas~~potential changes in labour and energy costs as a result of EU climate change policies shouldo not lead to social dumping or carbon leakage; a~~rgues, there~~nd calls on the commission to investigate any such risks; fore, thatis reason, also calls on other developed or developing countries ~~should~~to commit to appropriate or comparable efforts;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 27

27. Stresses that increases in carbon prices will lead to further increases in electricity costs; states that every €1 increase in the carbon price results in more than €2 billion ~~in extra costs for society in the form of~~transfer to Member States’ budget from electricity c~~harge~~onsumers, 40% of which is accounted for by industry; urges the Commission quickly to come up with guidelines for electricity cost compensation;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 28

28. Expresses its concern that imports from countries with lower CO2 restrictions have been mainly responsible for a 47% increase in consumption-related CO2 emissions in the EU between 1990 and 2006; ~~asks the Commission to assess whether such trend~~however, notes thave continued under the ETS and might increase during the third implementation phase (20/30%); considers that measures to counteract such carbon consumption trends, provided that they are fair and in compliance with WTO rules, could help to encourage the EU's trading partners to join an international agreementt this is independent of EU climate policies in general and the EU ETS in particular;

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 29 – point 7 a (new)

·investigate the potential negative impact in terms of green jobs leakage and reduced investments and competitiveness in green sectors, should the EU decide not to raise substantially its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target beyond 20% by 2020.

2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE

2011/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph B

B. whereas, in many developing countries, women’s property rights are not ~~leg~~socially ~~enforcea~~recognised; whereas, starting from such a discriminatory basis, it is impossible for ~~socially recognised~~women to assert their property rights by legal means,

2011/06/23
Committee: FEMM

2011/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the importance of legally certain contractual and commercial relationships for equal and democratic societies; believes that all individuals have the right to freely own and dispose of their property without state intervention;

2011/06/23
Committee: FEMM

2011/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the strengthening of policies to ~~increas~~place women’s access to property in developing countries on an equal footing with men’s is necessary; takes the view that this needs to be accompanied by the requisite financial support mechanisms, (such as savings, credit and insurance~~) and by the empowerment of women and NGOs, which inclu~~; believes that these strengthened policies will result in the empowerment of women, NGOs and companies; considers that they will improv~~ing~~e women’s legal and financial literacy, increas~~ing~~e the dissemination and accessibility of information, and establish~~ing~~ supporting legal services;

2011/06/23
Committee: FEMM

2011/2009(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, in their development work, to actively promote female entrepreneurship and proprety rights, as part of the process of enhancing women’s independence from their husbands and strengthening their countries’ economies;

2011/06/23
Committee: FEMM

2010/2211(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Takes the view that the new multiannual financial framework should reflect the EU's political priorities ~~as outlined in the EU 2020 Strategy~~in the field of energy and climate change, as outlined in the EU 2020 Strategy and the subsequent European Parliament resolution1; emphasises that the Union needs a long- term vision for an efficient and sustainable energy policy to 2050; notes that substantial investments in the European energy infrastructure are needed, in order ~~not to jeopardise achiev~~to meet the EU 2020 targets, keeping in mingd the EUlong-term 20250 ~~target~~objectives; welcomes the plans for an increase in the EU budget share for energy with a view to contributing to the funding of key European priority energy infrastructure projects with the aim of bridging the investment gap of about EUR 60 billion identified by the European Commission, as well as for European funding for research on new and renewable energy technologies; takes the view that energy efficiency and energy savings should remain key priorities in any future energy strategy, reducing the need for new additional energy infrastructures; __________________ 1 European Parliament resolution of 16 June 2010 on EU 2020 - P7_TA- PROV(2010)0223

2011/01/19
Committee: ITRE

2010/2211(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses the need to secure the long-term financing of the development of the innovative, ~~low-carbon~~sustainable energy technologies that will be needed over the long term, which are essential to sustainable development and creating new markets for EU industry; welcomes and urges immediathe implementation of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) ~~describ~~containing concrete actions for research in the field of clean, sustainable and efficient ~~low-carbon~~ energy technologies; and emphasises the urgent need for public financial support in this area;

2011/01/19
Committee: ITRE

2010/2211(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the fact that the EU 2020 Strategy highlights the importance of industrial policy for sustainable growth and employment in Europe; calls for a comprehensive vision for European industry in the year 2020, with a view to ensuring that a diversified ~~and~~, competitive, sustainable and low-carbon industrial base is maintained and further developed and that green jobs are created as a result; strongly supports the continuation of guarantee instruments in the framework of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and calls for an extension and considerable expansion of the CIP; asks the Commission for the next generation of programmes to put a stronger emphasis on mezzanine financial instruments and to support them with risk- sharing funds and facilities;

2011/01/19
Committee: ITRE

2010/2211(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses the need to maintain, stimulate and secure the financing of research, innovation and development in the EU via appropriate programme management and funding amounting at least to the percentage of the total EU budget that FP7 will have when it ends; calls for a significant increase in research expenditure from 2013, with an EU target of 1% of GDP for public funding; calls for increased international cooperation on R&D; considers that the EU support for the ITER project should not dwarf the funding allocated for research in other sources of energy and that the implementation of this project should be adequately monitored;

2011/01/19
Committee: ITRE

2010/2139(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that cohesion policy and projects need to be better linked to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs and become more results oriented; underlines the need to set clear objectives and to assess whether the goals were achieved, and to allocate clear competences to each level of governance;

2010/11/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2139(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Calls for a link between the allocation of subsidies and previous results and for more opportunities for the Court of Auditors and OLAF to initiate proceedings to recover European funds where member states make inappropriate use thereof as well as the elimination of unnecessary administrative burdens, more flexible project management and synchronised controls in order to simplify them and to avoid confusion and erroneous interpretations that current administrative practices often create;

2010/11/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2139(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Asks the Commission to identify the obstacles preventing a higher percentage of these funds from being used ~~in the~~for energy ~~sphere~~efficiency and to present additional measures remedying this situation; such measures could include ensuring better information flow to the local level or establishing one-stop shops and ensuring that those measures be evaluated in terms of energy efficiency gains;

2010/11/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2139(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission and the national authorities to improve the link between the cohesion funds and the research framework programme, underlines that cohesion funds should be used to enhance research infrastructure to enable research to reach the level of excellence necessary for access to research funds, calls for an improved information flow between cohesion funds and research programmes where projects with great potential would require access to better facilities for a successful application;

2010/11/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2139(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the importance of a competitive forest sector in regional development, especially in rural areas, where it contributes greatly to economic growth, jobs and prosperity;

2010/11/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2137(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines its calls for consistency between all EU policies and the priorities set out in the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs; underscores that this is of special importance as regards the competition policy;

2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE

2010/2137(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Underlines the importance of promoting an internal digital market; emphasises in this regard the importance of promoting consumer trust in and accessibility to online services, in particular by improving consumer rights, protection of private information and by removing any remaining obstacles to online cross-border trade and transactions;

2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE

2010/2137(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the key role of research in improving European competitiveness. Therefore calls on the European Commission and on Member States to ensure that the 3% target on investments in research and development is reached;

2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

– having regard to the Commission communication of 7 October 2010 on "Investing in the Development of Low Carbon Technologies (SET-Plan)" (COM (2009)519)) and having regard to its resolution of 11 March 2010 on investing in the development of low carbon technologies (SET-plan),

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas EU's energy policy should help realise EU's commitment to reduce green house gas emissions by 80-95 % by 2050,

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Jens ROHDE, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK, Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas major energy investments are needed, notably in new power plants and grids within the next decade~~, which~~ and whereas these investments will shape the energy mix for an even longer- period ~~and which~~it should be ensured they will sustain the transformation to a low-carbon economy; whereas this will require a new diversification of financing instruments,

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that any future strategy should seek to fulfil the Lisbon Treaty objectives of a single energy market, security of supply, energy efficiency and savings and the ~~promotion of~~development of new and renewable forms of energy and the promotion of interconnected, integrated and interoperable energy networks and lead to a reduced reliance on energy imports and an increase in domestic renewable energy production;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Jens ROHDE, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK, Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the Union needs a long term vision on energy policy, with the climate reduction objective to 2050 as the overreaching target, complemented by precise and comprehensive short term action plans to work towards these goals;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Urges the Member States to provide timely and completely to the Commission the information required under the Council Regulation 617/2010 on the notification of investment projects in energy infrastructure in order to have an overview of potential gaps in demand and supply as well as obstacles to investments, pending the judgment of the Court of Justice on the legality of the regulation which should have been adopted under the co-decision procedure as required by article 194 of the Treaty;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b

(b) ~~set priority projects and set criteria to identify key investments for the development of the internal energy market~~discuss criteria for key infrastructure investments and evaluate how the new structure from the 3rd internal market could be better at reflecting the long term political objectives;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point d

(d) if the analyses show that there are market failures that cannot be handled by the market alone, evaluate the need to extend financial support to the implementation phase of projects;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Jens ROHDE, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK, Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS

Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 15

Financing of energy policy

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Considers that the new financial perspective should reflect the political priorities of the EU as outlined in the 2020 Strategy, which implies a significantly higher proportion of the budget to be allocated to energy policy~~, including infrastructure~~;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. In addition hereto encourages the Commission to focus funds from the Structural Fund for convergence regions on initiatives that support the EU's climate and energy policies;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Furthermore stresses the urgent need to phase out subsidy schemes in the EU harmful to the climate in order to reduce fossil fuels consumption and to contribute to more level competition as well as releasing funds for R&D and deployment of sustainable energy technologies;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Believes, as stressed by the Commission in the EU 2020 strategy, that the EU should shift the tax burden from taxation of labour to activities harmful to the environment; invites the Commission to consider minimum standards for taxation of emissions and higher minimum taxation of energy consumption; encourages the Commission to review the energy taxation directive in accordance herewith;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Believes that innovative financial instruments (as for instance risk-sharing facilities and loan schemes by public banks) could be an important tool for supporting investments in the energy infrastructure ~~and~~, energy efficiency and renewable energy research and deployment; calls, therefore, on the Commission to increasingly replace traditional loans by these schemes; strongly endorses the proposal to use the EU budget equity as loan guarantees to encourage private and PPP investments;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Related hereto stresses the need for a favourable market and regulatory framework incentivising the market to invest in a new and sustainable energy system; believes this implies both ambitious and binding goals for the market and providing security that investments pay off; in this regard highlights the continued need for a common EU patent;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. ~~Stress~~Notes that some Member States ~~need~~will use additional Union support for infrastructure which the markets alone can not provide~~, including the replacement of old power plants, electrical grids and supply networks~~;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Jens ROHDE, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK, Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Stresses that, based on the conclusions of the task-force on smart grids, the Commission should assure a favourable regulatory framework at EU level for smart grids, w~~ith EU-wide common standards for their development; supports pilot projects for the roll-out of smart meters~~hich provides appropriate incentives for network operators to invest in operational efficiency, in order to aid the transition to a low carbon economy and thereby deliver the greatest value to European citizens; with EU-wide common standards for their development; supports pilot projects for the roll-out of smart meters as well as innovative communication, automation and grid control technologies, preferably under the SET-Plan initiative "smart cities";

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Asks the Commission to come forward with an impact assessment on the future of the world and EU gas market, including the impact of the already planned gas infrastructure projects (i.e. Nabucco), new LNG terminals, the impact of shale gas on the US gas market (notably on LNG import needs) ~~and the impact of possible shale gas developments in the EU on future gas security of supply and prices before the end of the year~~;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Asks the Commission to come forward with an impact assessment, in light of the EU’s binding 2020 CO2 reduction targets, on the future of the world and EU gas market, including the impact of the already planned gas infrastructure projects (i.e. Nabucco), new LNG terminals, the impact of shale gas on the US gas market (notably on LNG import needs) and the impact of possible shale gas developments in the EU on future gas security of supply and prices before the end of the year;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Energy efficiency and energy savings should be a key priority of any future strategy, as it is a cost-effective solution for reducing EU energy dependency, contributing to job creation, combating climate change, counteract the increase of energy tariffs and progress towards a resource-efficient economy; notes the large variances in energy efficiency performance of the different Member States; therefore believes that the target should be implemented in a way that does not penalise countries which have already adopted significant efforts;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Asks the Commission to propose a strategy to increase efficiency on the heat market in order to support efficient local infrastructures such as district heating and cooling that allow the development of integrated solutions for heating, cooling and electricity based on combined heat and power and efficient use of renewable energy sources;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. In this regard highlights the long term cost-effectiveness of more energy efficient buildings and urges the Member States to use their national action plans under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to set ambitious performance standards for themselves;

2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Supports the introduction of further ~~non-tax based~~ market mechanisms to improve the energy efficiency as a way of stimulating the competitiveness of the EU economy;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Additionally believes that more focus should be placed on the energy performance of energy-consuming products; encourages the Commission to fully apply the scope of the eco-design directive to include more products and to apply a dynamic standard setting model ensuring ambitious and regularly updated targets;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the Member States to agree on a common methodology for measuring national energy efficiency and savings targets and monitoring progress on achieving these targets; ~~stresses that binding legal targets can only be included once a common methodology is agreed;~~

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Highlights the various challenges the EU will face in delivering on its 20 % target for renewable energy and stresses that there are no single but a mix of solutions and technologies. Supports in this regard the SET-plan while stressing that technologies not included in the plan such as geothermal and wave power energy should also be further developed;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27b. On bioenergy particularly believes that Europe is falling behind its international partners in developing the full potential of this technology. Therefore strongly encourages the Commission to draft a cross-sectoral biomass policy that in partnership with Member States establishes a sustainable market for biomass from agriculture and forestry. The policy should include sustainability criteria that prevent a rise in production of biomass causing an increase in emissions from areas with high carbon content and a loss of biodiversity; calls on the Commission and Member States to step up their efforts towards supporting biofuels which don't lead to increased GHG emissions due to land use change, notably second generation biofuels; calls on the Commission to meet its commitment to come with an indirect land use change factor by the end of the year;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 27

Delivering on the 20 % renewable energy target

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Asks the Commission to present a communication on how to increase efficiency in the deployment of renewable sources of energy within the EU by striving towards a system of EU-wide common incentives for renewable sources of energy, which would allow to deploy the specific type of renewables in those parts of the EU, where they are most cost-efficient, and, thereby, lower electricity prices; believes ~~that in the midterm, regional renewables market groups could be created~~furthermore that to ensure the effectiveness of deployment of renewable energy the grid connection conditions should be harmonised with a view to ensuring uniform profitable terms for renewable energy (e.g. payment of grid connection expenses through the tariff); believes that in the midterm, regional renewables market groups could be created, believes that the long term goal is for renewable energy to be a fully integrated part of an internal EU energy market;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Believes that the flexibility mechanisms of the renewable energy directive (statistical transfer of data for renewable energy production and joint projects) must be further developed with a view to ensuring the cheapest possible renewable energy expansion at EU level;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)

28b. Encourages the Commission to investigate how to avoid inappropriate competition regarding renewable-energy subsidies and investments in renewable energy technology, including by coordinating and cooperating on renewable energy expansion in the Member States;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Calls on the Commission to analyse the respective national renewables energy action plans presented by Member States; asks the Commission to take action if needed to help certain Member States to improve their plans; a~~sks the Commission to use~~nd to use its full powers to ensure Member States live up to their legal obligation to fulfil their national target; highlights the cooperation mechanisms ~~foreseen~~ in the directive to ~~help~~enable those Member States ~~which need it~~to reach their targets;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Believes that in coordination with the EEAS, the Commission should ensure that the Union speaks with one voice on energy; furthermore believes that the EU should use its new powers in external policy to actively identify and strengthen cooperation with third countries in the area of climate, environment, development and research policy;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Priority should in the short to medium term be given to strategic energy infrastructure development and also expand the relationship with central suppliers and transit countries; however the long term strategy to secure EU's energy supply should be through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Welcomes the return of Russia to the meetings of the Energy Charter Conference; calls on the Commission to work to extend the treaty to more countries and, in the forum of the Energy Charter Conference, to work towards a negotiated settlement leading to the full ratification of the Treaty and its protocols by Russia; however stresses that any agreement should fully comply with EU internal energy market rules; furthermore stresses that energy should be central to the Post- PCA agreement with Russia and that agreement should serve as the basis for individual Member State's relations with Russia;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Believes that the creation of EU minimum standards for licensing and design certification for new nuclear power plants would be useful with a view to ensure the highest possible safety of the technology for those Member States who have chosen it to be part of their energy mix;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40a. Believes that some rural parts of Europe have particular needs when it comes to energy supply and in this regard invites the Member States to take these needs into view amongst other through removing the barriers, e.g. fiscal barriers, to local energy production such as micro- cogeneration;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Calls on the Commission to promote and support financially pilot projects in the EU for the exploitation of unconventional domestic energy sources, including shale gas; asks the commission to assist Member States to carry out geological surveys to determine the level of available resources in the Union and asks for it to be included in the long term strategy of the Union;deleted

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Jens ROHDE, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Lena EK, Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Believes that in the mid-term~~, conventional and unconventional sources of natural gas are the~~ transitional phase towards a non-fossil fuel based economy natural gas is a necessary source of energy that allows for a quick~~est~~ and ~~eas~~cost-efficiesnt way to lower carbon emissions ~~before moving to a non-fossil fue~~; furthermore as natural bgas~~ed economy, therefore calls for SET initiatives on CCS to focus also on~~ is an existing resource research and development funds should be targeted to making existing sources cleaner, e.g. gas burning power plants and other bio-fuels' emissions;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Believes that the research and development in energy technology innovation should be a central priority of the new 8th Framework Programme for Research and Development ~~and therefore there should be a significant increase in the resources allocated to these sub- programmes~~; therefore strongly urges the Member States and Commission to prioritise this policy area in the next budget and financial framework with a doubling of funds for research, development and demonstration projects in the energy area, including a vast increase in the EU’s future budget, particularly for renewable energy, smart grids and energy efficiency, up until 2020, compared with the current level; recalls in this context that the funding for the SET- plan should be equivalent of more than €1.5 billion a year according to the Commission's assessment;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)

47a. Welcomes the progress already made by the establishment of Joint Technology Initiatives in bringing industry, research and public institutions together generating added value for Europe; believes that the experience from the JTIs should be used to support the development of a “Silicon Valley for Energy” thus securing Europe's lead in sustainable energy sources;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Recalls that research in the field of energy should contribute not only to greenhouse gas reductions and security of supply enforcement, but also to improve the competitiveness of the European industry; in this regards, believes that engagement in standardisation with the EU strategic partners (such as China, Japan, India, Russia and the US) as regards new energy technologies, such as electric vehicles, are vital to ensure that European innovations are fully tradable on the international market; furthermore to ensure an efficient and fair transfer of technology encourages the EU and its international trade partners to work towards trade-opening initiatives for green technologies with a long term aim of zero tariff barriers on green technology;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 48

Low-carbon transport and new technology

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)

48a. Highlights the importance of including low-carbon transport in the new energy strategy and its related policy areas due to the interconnectedness hereof; reiterates that the road towards greener transport lies in exploiting the full potential of all the different technologies: more efficient fuel motors, alternative fuels such as sustainable biofuel and biogas, LPG and CNG, electric and hybrid cars, intelligent transport systems, extending and improving rail transport for goods and passengers by promoting interoperability and adopting common standards; calls for a better integration of the different modes of transport including the establishment of "green corridors" for transport throughout Europe;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 b (new)

48b. In addition to ensuring support for R&D for new technologies and setting of ambitious standards for the energy performance of fossil fuel engines, stresses the need to remove technical barriers to deployment of new technologies, e.g. to ensure that recharging of electric cars can be part of the management of electricity grids, and also that recharging is done in situations with high renewable energy electricity production;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 c (new)

48c. In this regard urges the Commission and Member States to promote electric cars together with the development of “intelligent” electricity and storage systems, super and smart grids, and combined heat and power etc., for example via the action plan for promotion of green vehicles and establishment of overall regulatory frameworks;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 d (new)

48d. Highlights the crucial importance that this is a coordinated effort ensuring that electric cars can be driven and recharged throughout the EU, without any technical adjustments, e.g. through drafting international standardisation of plugs, data communication and batteries;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 e (new)

48e. Encourages Member States to coordinate amongst themselves that no national special requirements can unnecessarily slow down new fuel technologies or make them more expensive;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 51

Long-term vision for a Europe independent from fossil fuels

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)

51a. Reiterates that the new energy policy must support the long-term objective of reducing EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 and achieving independence from fossil fuels;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)

51b. In this regard the Commission is encouraged to compile analyses aiming at long-term activities, including on the supply and demand, as well as the real risks and costs of supply failure compared with storage capacity, supply diversity and costs hereof. The analyses should also include long-term strategic and energy policy developments in the EU, and not least analyses of how the EU can avoid supply failure while at the same time, moving towards independence from fossil fuels;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 c (new)

51c. To make the achievement of the long term goals easier and more cost-efficient the Commission and Member States are encouraged to seriously consider moving to the 30% CO2 reduction target for 2020 to ensure the ETS market will function as a catalyst for investments in cleaner production processes and cleaner energy sources;

2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

- having regard to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products,

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas energy efficiency and saving iss are the most cost- effective and fastest way to reduce CO2 and other emissions and increase security of supply~~, and therefore energy efficiency should be a key priority of any future EU strategy, in particular of its 2020 Strategy~~; whereas fuel poverty can be tackled strategically by means of high levels of energy efficiency in buildings and appliances; whereas energy efficiency is a key priority of the Europe 2020 Strategy, whereas resources in public institutions, and especially the European Commission, do not currently match this ambition,

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the~~re are~~ economic advantages tof energy savings are significant, as one million jobs could be created by 2020; whereas the EU'’s imports of energy are rising and worth €332 billion in 2007, and according to Commission figures energy benefits per year can amount to over €1 000 per household7 which will be reinvested elsewhere in the economy and successful attainment of the energy efficiency target has the potential to save the EU some €100 billion and cut emissions by almost 800 million tonnes a year,8

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the academic evidence clearly suggests that efforts need to be stepped up to reach the 20% energy efficiency target by 2020 ~~and whereas monitoring of progress towards achieving the target is not sufficient~~,

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the payback period for investments in energy efficiency is short and investments create new local jobs in rural as well as in urban areas ~~which can to a large extent not be outsourced,~~ in particular in the construction sector and within SMEs,

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas a range of barriers stand in the way of full exploitation of energy saving opportunities, including upfront investment costs and non-availability of suitable finance, lack of awareness, the ‘hassle factor’, split incentives such as between landlords and tenants, and lack of clarity over who is responsible for delivering energy savings,

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Corinne LEPAGE, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas buildings are responsible for about 40% of energy consumption and about 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU9 and whereas construction represents a large part of the EU economy with about 12% of the EU GDP; whereas existing buildings account for 99% of the building stock and whereas adequate measures to reduce their energy consumption are still missing; whereas increasing the number and level of deep renovations in the existing building stock is essential in order to reach the 2020 and 2050 EU policy goals on climate and energy, while creating hundreds of thousands of local jobs and thus contributing significantly to EU economic recovery,

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas industrial electrical motors consume 30%-40% of the electrical energy generated worldwide and whereas proper optimisation of relevant motor systems~~, primarily~~ by using speed regulation, and other techniques can save between 30% and 60% of energy consumed,

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission to present an evaluation by the end of 2010 of the result of the efforts made by Member States and the Commission; considers that, if the evaluation reveals unsatisfactory implementation of the strategy and the EU is therefore projected not to reach its 2020 target, the EEAP should include a commitment by the Commission to, and to act accordingly, including by proposeing further EU measures for Member States such as binding energy efficiency targets ~~for the Member States~~ which are fair, measurable and take into account ~~their~~ relative starting positions and national circumstances and correspond to a reduction of 20% primary energy consumption compared to business as usual; stresses that the method should be based on absolute reductions in energy consumption to ensure transparency;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Corinne LEPAGE, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to present, by the end of the year and in time for the 4 February Energy European Council, an ambitious Energy Efficiency Action Plan which takes stock of the progress achieved ~~with~~on all measures contained in the 2006 Action Plan, reinforces implementation of energy efficiency measures adopted as outlined in the 2006 Action Plan, which are still under way, and includes new adequate measures to achieve the 2020 target;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a revision of the Energy Services Directive (ESD) to include a so- called scoreboard approach (with flexible targets), which leaves flexibility for Member States to choose in which areas they will focus their effort based on assumptions with regard to cost-efficiency and potential energy savings; urges Member States to agree on the common methodology to calculate energy savings;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Following the entry into force of the revised Energy Labelling Directive, ~~ask~~encourages the Commission ~~in a few years" time to assess the impact~~to assess, ahead of the 2014 deadline in the legislation, the impact of the new energy labelling layout and of the mandatory reference to the energy-label scheme in advertisements on consumers"’ behaviour, and to take further measures if necessary to increase their effectiveness;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that a stronger focus is needed on system innovations such as smart grids (for electricity but also for heating and cooling), smart metering and energy storage which can facilitate energy efficiency and ensure that a fair share of the gains accrue to the end-use customers;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Points out that transmission and distribution contribute considerably to energy loss and stresses the role that microgeneration and decentralised and diversified generation might play in guaranteeing supply security and reducing losses; considers that incentives should be created aimed at improving infrastructure with a view to reducing transmission and distribution losses;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. C~~alls for a revision of the CHP Directive to promote CHP~~onsiders that a stronger focus is needed to increase the overall energy system efficiency, in particular to reduce heat losses, therefore calls for a revision of the CHP Directive to promote highly efficient CHP, use of heat waste from industry and district heating/cooling by encouraging Member States to set up a stable and favourable regulatory framework by ~~considering priority access to the electricity grid for CHP and by promoting use of~~promoting use of highly efficient CHP and district heating in buildings and sustainable funding for CHP, e.g. by making CHP a selection criterion for urban and rural development projects financed by the Structural Funds;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on Member States ~~likewise~~not only to support high efficiency industrial CHP generation but also to promote the use of CHP by supporting the establishment and refurbishment of district heating systems ~~rather than supporting CHP generation as such;~~ , including by changing from fossil fuel to biomass and to promote increased use of waste energy from industry; notes that improvements to the energy efficiency of the housing stock will lead to a reduction in heat demand which should be factored in when assessing district heating capacity;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Corinne LEPAGE, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Calls on the Commission to combine work on smart grids and smart metering with price incentives (differential pricing) to incentivise reductions in electricity use;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Jens ROHDE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Recommends that energy efficiency and energy saving become a central component of European energy regulators’ mandates, noting that regulators are responsible for approving electricity network investments; notably, calls on regulators to mandate electricity suppliers to introduce pricing formulas which involve increasing block tariffs whereby the price increases for greater levels of consumption;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Corinne LEPAGE, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to assess the potential for efficiency in ~~public~~existing buildings and propose ain its revised ESD and through the 2011 National Energy Efficiency Action Plans, mandatory targets for the reduction of the energy consumption of ~~public~~existing buildings in the Member States;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Corinne LEPAGE, Jens ROHDE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to design and implement cost-effective, practicable and reasonable national programmes to support deep renovations where the energy demand will be reduced by between 50% and 90% over pre-renovation performance depending on the condition of the building, so that by 2050, the stock of existing buildings will be improved by an average of at least 80% over existing levels of performance; calls on the Commission and Member States to prioritise the least efficient buildings, notably by using the A-G grades (or equivalent) contained in Energy Performance Certificates; calls for the level of financial, fiscal or other support for these renovations to be strongly linked to the level of improvement, and for financial support to be provided only for measures which are more ambitious than the minimum requirements;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to use investment grade audits in order to assess the quality of Energy Performance Certificates; based on these assessments, calls on the Commission to provide guidelines for Member States to ensure the quality of their Energy Performance Certificates and of the energy efficiency improvement of the measures undertaken as a result of recommendations from these certificates;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Is convinced that it is key for achieving the energy savings target that public authorities lead the way; therefore, asks that public authorities go well beyond the requirements set in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, in particular by renovating all their existing stock as early as possible to a level comparable to nearly zero energy standard, where technically feasible; acknowledges on the other hand that existing budgetary restrictions in particular at regional and local level often limit the capability of public entities to invest up front; calls on the Commission and the Member States to find innovative solutions to address this problem, for example by considering the cost savings within a multi-annual financial framework;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Believes that the European Parliament and the Commission should set an example by refurbishing their buildings to nearly zero level by 2020 as part of a wider audit of energy use by the institutions which should embrace working and travel arrangements, incentives and locations, as well as equipment and procurement;

2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Asks the Commission and the Member States to promote the wider use of energy audits in companies ~~and~~, structured processes for energy management and energy management systems standards such as EN 1600a, as well as devise mechanisms for assisting SMEs~~, in particular, in this respect~~;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Corinne LEPAGE, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. ~~Believes that~~Calls on the Commission ~~should finance pilot studies of energy efficiency audits~~to pull in all the resources necessary in order to consult widely, so as to avoid a backlash with Member States ,before coming forward by 30 June 2011 with its comparative methodology framework for calculating cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements under the Energy Performance of bBuildings ~~to verify potential savings and~~Directive; believes that once in place, the comparative methodology will motivate market players to invest in energy-efficient solutions;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Notes that technological advances can open up opportunities for step changes in energy efficiency rather than incremental advances; in this respects, asks the Commission to be open to the potential of ultra-low energy lighting systems incorporating on-site renewable electricity and innovative technology such as solid state lighting and printable electronics;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Asks the Commission to propose min~~imum energy~~stallation requirements and/or benchmarks with regard to street lighting~~, green procurement and energy refurbishment~~ to be implemented by local authorities, including the use of smarter controls and energy saving use patterns; urges in this context that it include specification of total lifetime costs for all public procurement of lighting installations by 2012;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new) (after title 4)

19a. Regrets long delays in the adoption of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling implementing measures, especially for boilers and water heaters; therefore, suggests that clearer and strict deadlines should be set at the beginning of the process for each implementing measure;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls for the rapid and proper implementation of the Directives on Ecodesign and Energy Labelling by adopting delegated acts covering new energy-related products; ~~consider~~regrets that the ~~Directive on~~Commission up until now has not exploited the full potential of the Eco-Ddesign ~~should also cover products for large buildings~~directive and urges the Commission to revise its 2009-2011 working plan to include more products, notably new household appliances, ICT, industrial equipment, and integrated lighting systems in buildings~~, pumps and water efficiency products and should also include a definition of minimum performance requirements for building~~; furthermore, urges the Commission to apply a dynamic standard setting model ensuring ambitious and regularly updated targets;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Acknowledges that the constant trend towards bigger and more powerful appliances and electronic products can be detrimental to the EU energy saving objectives, and believes that the Commission should introduce progressivity in the definition of energy performance and energy labelling requirements, meaning requirements that are tightened with increasing size/functionalities of a product and/or that fix a maximum limit for energy consumption for each product regardless of its size;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Jens ROHDE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Calls on the Commission to evaluate legislation and make sure that legislation addresses ~~products,~~not only products, but also systems and their energy use and considers it necessary to increase the awareness of EU citizens regarding the energy and resource efficiency of consumer and energy-related products; ~~considers that when evaluating energy consumption, applications should be considered as a whole, rather than single part-products only;~~

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 3

· the Commission and Member States establish a concrete target ~~for the number of homes fitted with smart meters by 2020~~s to deliver, in accordance with the timetable of the 3rd Energy Market package, smart meter benefits for consumers (such as energy reductions, assistance to low income and vulnerable consumers and improved customer service); Member States develop and publish a strategy to deliver the potential benefit of smart metering to all consumers, including vulnerable and low income people;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Asks the Commission to publish an ambitious white paper on transport in order to develop a sustainable European transport policy that promotes the introduction of energy-efficient new technologies and reduces dependency on fossil fuels, especially oil, across all sectors, and promotes higher energy consciousness in infrastructure and spatial planning;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Notes that while the US recently adopted legislation which requires a 5% year on year reduction in fuel consumption in new cars and light trucks by 2016, EU legislation requires less than a 3% year on year reduction by 2015;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. ~~Encourages, in this context, promotion of the use of energy-efficient tyres and asks~~Calls on the Commission to set minimum energy efficiency requirements for all transport modes, especially for vehicles purchased by public authorities and tyres fitted on those vehicles; asks the Commission to present by the end of 2011 a strategy for lowering the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of heavy duty vehicles, which are currently barely addressed;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Jens ROHDE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Notes that consumer information and advertising have an important part to play in orienting consumers towards more efficient purchase choices and driving habits; calls for a clear-multi-class rating system for fuel economy and CO2 emissions of new passenger cars, and for the mandatory installation of in-car fuel economy meters or indicators;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)

31a. Believes that price signals are crucial in order to increase energy efficiency. Energy and carbon taxation, and revision of the energy tax directive, should be part of the revised energy efficiency action plan, as the use economic instruments is the most cost-effective way of promoting energy savings. In order to reach the full potential of smart metering there is a need for increased price flexibility, such as on hourly basis, for the end-use customers;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Jens ROHDE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new) (after title 6)

31a. Reminds the Commission and Member states of the trias energetica, according to which energy demand should be reduced before any investment in additional energy supply is agreed;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)

33a. Recognises the lack of upfront finance as a major barrier to building refurbishment in the residential and SME sectors and calls on the Commission to list innovative solutions and best practice in overcoming this problem such as successful ‘pay as you save’ mechanisms, revolving funds and green investment banks (on the model of KfW in Germany or Caisse Depots in France);

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Stresses the need to improve the use of existing EU funds such as the ERDF and the EAFRD for energy efficiency measures; notes the importance of evaluating such measures primarily in terms of the energy saving achieved rather than the consequential economic benefits such as job creation; asks the Commission to identify the obstacles to the use of a larger share of the resources of the Structural and Cohesion Funds for ~~this~~energy efficiency purposes and to come forward with adequate actions to address these obstacles (e.g. additional EU measures to support technical assistance);

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)

36a. Welcomes the clear support given in the Europe 2020 Strategy to shifting the tax burden from labour to energy and environmental taxes, and calls for a coordinated EU-wide move in this direction;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)

36 b. Notes that while much of the upfront capital required to deliver energy saving investments will need to come from the private sector, public intervention is needed to help overcome market failures and ensure that the low carbon transition occurs in time to comply with EU renewable energy and emission reduction targets;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)

36c. Highlights the EU-ETS as an enormous resource potential for energy efficiency investments; recognises that between 2012 and 2020 more than 112 billion Euros will be raised by auctioning of EU emission allowances, and that this figure could be 70 billion Euros higher if the EU’s emissions reduction target is raised to 30%; furthermore, notes that EU companies are buying millions of CDM credits, mostly in China and India, while they could be investing in energy efficiency at home;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Calls on the Commission to ~~consider proposing effective measures to push energy companies to invest in energy efficiency~~propose effective measures to ensure that energy companies invest in energy efficiency; notes that until full unbundling including of DSOs has taken place, it cannot be expected that energy companies will automatically engage in energy service provision; notes that any obligation on energy companies to invest in energy efficiency must ensure a level playing field and free market access for all qualified providers of energy services and energy efficiency improvement measures, while also ensuring the quality and service life of these measures; stresses the need to stimulate this market to a wider group of actors than energy companies through actions to increase both demand and supply of such services, for instance through procurement groups, subsidies for energy audits and to increase awareness of these services, through information measures;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Jens ROHDE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to extend regulatory responsibility for ensuring compliance with utility obligations on energy saving, and quality control of measures carried out, by developing the mandate for national regulators to impose penalties for non-respect of energy saving targets, with fines to be paid into dedicated energy efficiency funds;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)

38b. Stresses the need to improve the development of markets for energy services; asks the Commission to consider, when revising the Energy Services Directive, the introduction of mandatory instruments for energy performance contracting in the public sector, and to propose effective measures to foster energy performance contracting in the private sector;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 c (new)

38c. Calls on all levels of government to increase their efforts to enhance education and training of energy efficiency experts of all kinds and in all sectors, especially in SMEs, thereby creating green local jobs while facilitating the implementation of ambitious energy efficiency legislation;

2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas growing trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere and are a significant source and sink of carbon flows and since European forests are expanding in area, the carbon in woody biomass in Europe is estimated to be expanding at present at a rate of 116 million MT per year,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), long-term trend of increasing forest coverage in the European Union is stable,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas Europe has a total area of forests and other wooded land of 177 million hectares, covering 42 % of its land area,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that forests not only are essential to the environment, but also contribute to the achievement of social and economic objectives, for example by providing ~~timber~~raw material for timber products, paper, pulp and energy production, improving the general living environment and protecting crops; forests ~~are a major source of funding for rural communities, revenue being generated by activities relating to~~contribute significantly to economic growth, jobs and prosperity, especially in rural communities where it is a major source of revenue and provide a livelihood for millions of workers, entrepreneurs and forest owners, including important revenues from forestry, hunting and tourism;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas the diversity of natural conditions between different forest regions in Europe is huge, ranging from sub-arctic to Mediterranean and from alpine to lowland, including flood plains and deltas,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A e (new)

Ae. whereas forests provide a livelihood for millions of workers, entrepreneurs and forest owners, and contribute significantly to economic growth, jobs and prosperity,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A f (new)

Af. whereas in 2005, the sector had a turnover of about EUR 380 billion, which equals to around 9 percent of GDP in Europe,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A g (new)

Ag. whereas sustainable forest management, including forest protection, is crucial for keeping the forest diverse, healthy and resilient,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A h (new)

Ah. whereas actively and sustainably managed forests are one of the most effective ways to store CO2 from the atmosphere,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A i (new)

Ai. whereas the forest sector is especially important in rural areas and the 350 000 enterprises in the forest-based industries employ about 3 million people, i.e. 8.6 percent of the total manufacturing labour force in Europe,

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes the potential added value of European coordination on forest information, supervision on climate change, adaptation targets, mitigation targets, renewable energy targets and best practices for multifunctional and sustainable forest management, in particular given the cross-border nature of the challenges;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that agriculture is vulnerable to climate change, the manifestations of which have been increasing in number, frequency and intensity, deforestation having been taking place in numerous regions of Europe; notes, however, that according to the study "State of Europe's Forests 2007", the area in Europe covered by forests has increased by approximately 13 million hectares over the course of the last 15 years; forests ~~also~~ play an important role in terms of watercourse regulation, water quality standards and the protection of vital springs, all of which are of relevance to agriculture;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Considers that active and sustainable forest management is important for its contribution to rural economies and job creation, as well as EU energy strategy; the great potential of forests as a ~~renew~~sustainable source of energy is currently being underexploited; accordingly welcomes the Commission's public consultation initiative regarding the role of agriculture and forestry in achieving climate-change objectives; calls on the Commission to propose ways of extending these strategies to include the reduction of carbon emissions and carbon sequestration by means of land use and land-use change and forestry (LULUCF);

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas growing trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere and are a significant source and sink of carbon flows and since European forests are expanding in area, the carbon in woody biomass in Europe is estimated to be expanding at present at a rate of 116 million MT per year,

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that excessive regulation will make timber products less competitive compared to non-renewable and energy intensive materials, such as plastics, aluminium and concrete, and will thus hurt the EU's possibilities to reach the climate targets;

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Stresses the need to respect the different challenges for forestry policies across the EU; notes in particular the different eco-systems, differences in forest ownership structure and the diversity of climate challenges facing different parts of Europe; points to the need to take measures and conduct monitoring at an appropriate level: local, regional, Member State or the EU;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Gaston FRANCO, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas energy generation from ~~solid~~ biomass ~~and biowaste~~ is projected to be 58% of EU renewables by 2020, ~~leading to an intensification of forestry practices and in~~forestry biomass share is expected to decreases in ~~the ratio of felling to increment to over 100%~~relative terms unlike waste and agricultural biomass,

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that agriculture and forestry can be made to function as an integrated whole; while the aspects relating to production are essential, they are not inconsistent with the protection of forests or the other benefits deriving from them; it is necessary to strike the correct balance between the two and ensure interaction between them, ~~for example~~which can be achieved through sustainable forest management and in exceptional circumstances through ~~the~~ more efficient allocation of available funding~~; European forestry policy~~ on the level of the Member States; European forestry initiatives supporting public goods, particularly under the second pillar of the CAP, must be continued with an adequate level of funding under the post-2013 CAP;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas energy generation from solid biomass and biowaste is projected to be 58% of EU renewables by 2020, leading to an intensification of forestry ~~practices and~~and thus will lead to increased demands ion the ~~ratio of felling to increment to over 100%~~forestry sector to practice Sustainable Forest Management,

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Points out the need for the Commission to swiftly deal with the discrepancies between the objectives of legislation affecting forests and agriculture policy; calls for cohesion between different EU policies, especially on forestry and agriculture but also on policies on renewable energy, biodiversity, industry, research and the Europe 2020 strategy;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls that farmers are helping to increase areas under forest by planting trees, using stratified agro-forestry systems or involving the forestation of poor quality soil or soil unsuitable for efficient methods of farming, as well as contributing to the provision of cuertain protection systems and the identification of hardy species; the EU should continue to provide aid for forestation under the national rural development programmes, while making sure these initiatives do not interfere with the market;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6a (new)

6a. Stresses that, since forest legislation affects millions of small forest owners, forest polices should always balance the respect with the owners' property rights with the requirements for delivering public goods;

2010/10/14
Committee: ITRE

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the increasing long- term trend of forest coverage in Europe is stable and the current ratio of felling/planting is around 75 percent in Eastern Europe and 70 percent in Western Europe,

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Considers that the European Union can take action to support~~, coordinate~~ and supplement forestry policy initiatives by the Member States through information and monitoring efforts, the objective being to achieve the sustainable development of forests, while helping to enhance quality of life for European citizens by consolidating all the economic, social, cultural and environmental goods and services provided by forests; these efforts should pay maximum attention to the different regional conditions for forestry and, especially, take different opportunities and threats for forest environments in northern and southern Europe into consideration;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas forests constitute live and evolutionary ecosystems often cutting across state borders ~~which may be classified according to bioclimatic zone and forest type, following the forest nomenclature developed by the EEA~~,

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Observes that climate change will have different consequences for different European forest types, as the diversity of natural conditions between different forest regions in Europe is huge, ranging from sub-arctic to Mediterranean and from alpine to lowland, including flood plains and deltas; which means that adaptation strategies must be decided on at regional or local level, but where there is a clear surplus value of community action, the strategies could be coordinated at EU level; takes the view that national forestry plans must be subject to specific and quantifiable ex ante and ex post evaluation criteria;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Considers that forests ~~are of major benefit~~contribute greatly in terms of public goods~~, for which the market reward is insufficient~~; the European Union should provide ~~assistance~~incentives to forest owners from funding instruments as a reward for their efforts to implement measures to protect the genetic diversity of forests; reaffirms Parliament's view regarding the need for EU-funded support payments for additional areas, thereby rewarding farmers for reducing carbon emissions per production unit and/or increasthrough, for example, rural development programmes, research funding, exchange of best practices and long-term standard setting to protect the genetic diversity of forests; reaffirms Parliament's view regarding the need for adequate levels of funding to EU forestry measures; emphasises that these European incentive mechanisms should not interfere with the well functioning cmar~~bon storage in the soil, using sustainable~~ket for timber products, paper, pulp and energy production ~~methods~~;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Points out that forestry is closely related to agriculture, given that most forest owners in Europe are also farmers, taking however into account the restructuring of society, and thus the increased number of urban forest owners;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that, since forest legislation affects millions of small forest owners, forest polices should always balance the respect for the owners' property rights with the requirements for delivering public goods;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the EU FAP has four goals: improving long-term competitiveness, protecting the environment, contributing to quality of life and fostering coordination and whereas significant progress has not been made ~~mainly~~ in achieving the ~~first~~se goal,s;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Advoc~~Reiterates the ~~wider application of Article 68 of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 in respect of forest~~already existing possibility for Member States to grant specific support to forest owners, for example, for protection or enhancement of the environment or for addressing specific problems to forest owners in disadvantaged areas;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses the need to draw up and promote good practice guidelines with regard to forestry, so as to help ensure that forests are able to withstand the effects of climate change; such guidelines should be adapted to the needs of owners and local communities and based on the principles of sustainable management; stresses that excessive regulation will make timber products less competitive compared to non-renewable and energy intensive materials, such as plastics, aluminium and concrete, and will thus hurt the EU's possibilities to reach the climate targets;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Considers it necessary to improve and encourage associations of forest owners so as to improve communication between them and provide them with consultancy services, taking into account the changing structure of forest owners;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13

13. Considers that the EU should ~~supp~~provide incentives fort sustainable forest management through ~~funding for forestry activities of benefit to it; special attention should be given in this respect to forestry undertakings, most of which are small or medium sized~~technology transfers between Member States and information efforts; special attention should be given in this respect to small or medium sized forestry undertakings; they must be encouraged to modernise and restructure in order to meet the new challenges arising from climate change and the economic crisis;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13

13. Considers that the EU should support sustainable forest management through funding for forestry activities of benefit to it; special attention should be given in this respect to forestry undertakings, ~~most of which are~~taking into account the global forest industry companies and small orand medium -sized entrepreneurship; they must be encouraged to modernise and restructure in order to meet the new challenges arising from climate change and the economic crisis;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the Green Paper on Forest Protection and Information; considers that EU Strategy on forests should be strengthened with a view to improving the national management and conservation of forests, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Welcomes the Commission’s view that forests should be seen as a major contributor to solving the climate crisis; emphasises that sustainable forest management is of pivotal importance for the EU to achieve its climate goals and deliver necessary ecosystem services, such as biodiversity, protection against natural disasters, and capturing of CO2 from the atmosphere;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 14

14. Reiterates its concerns regarding forest fires, which are a serious problem in parts of Europe, and the need to take action to prevent any deterioration in the natural composition of ~~forests as a result of excessiv~~the forest~~ation~~s;

2010/11/09
Committee: AGRI

2010/2106(INI)

Lena EK, Carl HAGLUND, Christofer FJELLNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is convinced that ~~ecological sustainability is the prerequisite~~Sustainable Forest Management is important for the continuation of the economic and social functions of EU forests;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls that, since forest legislation affects millions of small forest owners, forest policies should always balance respect for the owners' property rights with the requirements for delivering public goods;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Recognises the important contributions to sustainable forestry by existing global certification schemes, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC);

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Gaston FRANCO, Carl HAGLUND, Giommaria UGGIAS, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission and Member States to intensify efforts to achieve ~~the environment and quality of life goals of the FAP, the implementation of which is currently lagging behind~~all the four objectives of the FAP according to the key recommendations in the Report of the Mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the EU Forest Action Plan;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Advocates that ~~active~~ SFM should be ~~made mandatory in the EU in the context of five-year~~promoted by relevant Members States with National Forest Programmes incorporating regional priorities and measurable targets and evaluation criteria;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Gaston FRANCO, Carl HAGLUND, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Notes that sustainable management which includes genetic diversity, natural regeneration and diversity in structure and species mixture ~~are common elements in forest adaptation options, cutting~~should be applied across all bioclimatic zones, management systems and forest types in order to guarantee economic viability;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to ~~present a legislative proposal for~~evaluate a framework for the climate adaptation of EU forests;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that excessive regulation will make timber products less competitive compared to non-renewable and energy intensive materials, such as plastics, aluminium and concrete, and will thus harm the possibility of the EU reaching its climate targets;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Lena EK, Carl HAGLUND, Christofer FJELLNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Urges the Commission to ~~report to~~consider an EU-wide study to present to the Parliament and the Council on options for ~~the introduction of~~ payments for ecosystem services taking into account the role of forestation, biodiversity conservation and SFM;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Urges the Commission to present a ~~legislative~~ proposal for coordination on Forest Information, taking into account climate threats and the need for harmonised and comparable data in the context of the UNFCCC, CBD, and environmental accounts; points out that such a system should be compatible with already existing efforts within FAO/COFO, UNECE and Forest Europe, and in that context can only be justified if a clear added European value exist;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Lena EK, Carl HAGLUND, Christofer FJELLNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Stresses the need to respect the principle of subsidiarity and the role of local and national governments on forest policy; notes that due to the diversity of the climate challenges facing different parts of Europe, the divergence in forest ownership and the differences in conditions within the Union, a common EU-policy runs the risk of being too broad to be useful in achieving the climate adaptation needed;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

~~20. Calls for the inclusion of a new CAP measure ‘in situ and ex situ-conservation of source-identified forest genetic material’;~~deleted

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2106(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. ~~Calls on~~Asks the Commission to ~~develop~~abstain from legally binding sustainability criteria for woody biomass, a~~nd ILUC factors for all forms of biomass~~s the additional administrative burden of such a regulation would possibly hinder the supply of biomass for energy use and thus threaten the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy sources in Europe, as set out in the Renewable Energy Directive; points to the ongoing process for establishing criteria for biomass within Forest Europe as a good alternative;

2011/02/15
Committee: ENVI

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas maintaining global leadership of European industry is only possible through new technologies/processes/solutions, R&D, a sophisticated supply-chain, better efficiency, strong human resources, good logistics and infrastructure, and a level playing field in trade relations with third countries as cost-cutting is not the way forward for industry in Europe,

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Highlights the importance of European manufacturing to strengthen the foundations of the European economy;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Jürgen CREUTZMANN, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to develop, together with the European Parliament and the Council, a qualitative ~~and, where possible, quantitative~~ vision for European industry in 2020, which looks towards sustainable development in the long term and lays down guidelines, for example for energy and resource efficiency, with a view to ensuring that European industry becomes more stable and competitive and jobs are created as a result;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the new, integrated approach calls for extremely effective collaboration within the Commission, coherence among the various Commission policies, and calls on the Commission to set up a permanent industrial policy task force to this end;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls for research expenditure for the upcoming programming period from 2013 (RDP 8) to be significantly increased (EU target for public funding: 1% of GDP). Notes that, alongside strongly process- oriented research and innovation, research in basic cross-sectoral technologies is needed ~~and,~~; in addition, ~~that~~procedures, especially the application proce~~dure~~ss must be simplified in order to increase absorption problems;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Notes that a significant increase in R&D investment, both private and public, is essential for EU industry to remain a technology leader and retain global competitiveness in areas such as renewable energy and transport efficiency; notes that to support increased private R&D investment, functioning markets for innovative products and a stable investment environment are necessary; believes that increased public funding of R&D is necessary to leverage private investment and encourage collaboration and that simplification of public funding procedures, especially in the EU Framework Programmes, is a prerequisite for increased industry participation;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Stresses the success of the Risk Sharing Financial Facility (RSFF) as an important way of providing research funding for SMEs via the EIB, and strongly encourages the Commission to make significantly more funds available to the RSFF; also stresses the importance of making innovation programmes more accessible for SME by decreasing bureaucratic burdens;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls that, representing as it does an annual 17% of GDP in the EU, public procurement is a powerful instrument for stimulating innovation; points out that competitors such as China and the USA have set ambitious targets for public procurement of innovative and environmental products~~, and calls for similar t~~; recalls that some partners have still not granted equal reciprocal market access to their public procurement margket ~~setting in the EU~~s for our industry despite the opening of our market to their industry;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 4

- ensuring ~~adequate provision of raw materials through fair trade agreements and strategic partnerships,~~ unrestricted access to raw materials and rare earth metals through fair trade agreements and strategic partnerships, including those partners with whom the Commission has signed free trade agreements or is in the process of negotiating free trade agreements; such agreements should always include a ban on export restriction of raw material and rare earth,

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 4 a (new)

- intensify exchanges with partners such as Japan and the US on access to raw materials though bilateral dialogues but also with key raw materials producing countries such as China and Russia,

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 4 b (new)

- a regular and more offensive dialogue with African countries on raw materials and rare earth,

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 5 a (new)

- regular impact assessments of anticipated demand for – and criticality and supply risks of – raw materials and rare earth (including potential shortages, price increases, etc.) and the consequences for the EU economy in general and businesses in particular; the list of raw materials and rare earths covered should be updated regularly,

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 5 b (new)

- monitoring production forecast from third countries and the operating conditions of the raw materials global markets,

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Lena EK, Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Is convinced that industry needs an energy policy focused on the long term which guarantees appropriate energy prices and security of supply, allows manufacturing to take place without the release of gases damaging to the climate, and prevents carbon leakage; points out that the internal energy market is an asset when it comes to switching to low-carbon production and supply, and that the network infrastructure (including heating networks) must therefore be renewed and extended, and smart grids promoted; a long-term energy policy should include the interaction between industries and the local heat market as well as the possible use of low-grade industrial heat in the residential and service sectors to strengthen security of supply and increase resource efficiency;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Is convinced that industry needs an ~~energy~~ambitious but realistic energy and environmental policy focused on the long term which guarantees appropriate energy prices and security of supply, a~~llows manufacturing to take place without the release of gases damaging to the climate~~ reduction of our dependence on fossil fuels, an increase in the efficiency of manufacturing and consumption, and prevents carbon leakage; points out that the internal energy market is an asset when it comes to switching to low- carbon production and supply, and that the network infrastructure must therefore be renewed and extended, and smart grids promoted;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 4 a (new)

- more mobility and flexibility in vocational and educational training both for employers and employees, taking into account the individual requirements especially of SME;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Stresses the importance of creating the right framework for industry to remain in Europe and to further improve its global competitiveness; believes, therefore, that EU policies should be based on robust impact assessments which analyze all angles of the economic, societal and environmental benefits of EU policies;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls for a stronger, coordinated EU policy on lead markets, such as the environmental industries (some 3.5 million employees, EUR 300 billion turnover, up to 50% of the global market)~~; stresses that many "traditional" markets –~~ and manufacturing including steel, automobiles and shipbuilding, for example –which have a strong capacity for innovation and/or offer comparative advantages, of which full use should be made; for these purposes, product-specific legislation such as the eco-design directive should be developed further, and industry- stimulating initiatives such as the "‘green car initiative"’ put in place;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls for efforts to be stepped up with a view to creating without delay a Community patent in order to improve the framework conditions for industrial property rights, implementing a reform of standardisation methods and bringing about international standardisation in order to safeguard technological leadership; keeping bureaucratic costs at a minimum enables SME to stay competitive (especially in regards to translation costs of patents);

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Jürgen CREUTZMANN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Takes the view that ~~sectoral~~effective aind ~~policy should not only be seen in the context of competition law, but must, in the interests of Europe, be used proactively, transparently and with clear rules to strengthen innova~~strict EU rules on competition and state aid constitute the indispensable basis for a competitive European industry; undistorted competition ~~and~~in the ~~roll-out of new products, and in connection with industrial restructuring operations~~EU single market leads to innovation and increases efficiency and productivity;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS, Michael THEURER, Lena EK, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. CStresses that trade is one of the cornerstones of a successful industrial policy and therefore calls for future trade agreements to be drawn up in such a way that they form part of an industrial strategy based on fair competition in the developed and developing worlds; the principle of sustainable development must be comprehensively applied, and social and environmental standards incorporated in free trade agreements; steps must be taken to ensure that European industries are not endangered by unfair practic and full reciprocity; believes that a new trade policy is needed which further promotes manufacturing in Europe and does not incentivize businesses to delocalize; takes the view, therefore, that the EU should request full tariff dismantling from its trading partners, a full removal of non- tariff barriers to trade, not allow a weakening of rules of origin and not authorize the use of duty drawback; the principle of sustainable development must be comprehensively applied, and social and environmental standards incorporated in free trade agreements while not overburdening trade agreements with non-trade related standards; to that end, the Commission should also monitor the environmental legislation, state aid rules and other support programmes, a~~s is currently hap~~dopted by third countries compenting ~~in the solar energy industry~~with the EU;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Calls on the Commission to respect the roadmaps and conclusions developed in industry-specific approaches; believes that these roadmaps provide industry with long-term planning certainty and are a valuable tool for remaining competitive;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2095(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Takes the view that European ~~industry, which profits from these political efforts and the favourable framework conditions, should assume more responsibility for~~, institutions and all industry stakeholders should cooperate closely to develop favourable framework conditions, which will enable industry to maintain investment and production in Europe, sustain its own research efforts and thereby guarantee sustainable growth and employment ~~in Europe~~; believes that industry ~~should enter into clear voluntary commitments to invest in Europe, sustain its own research efforts, contribute to~~has a role to play in developing a new culture of qualifications, ~~develop~~ even more innovative, sustainable products and processes, and enter wherever possible into strategic partnerships ~~in Europe~~;

2010/11/16
Committee: ITRE

2010/2054(INI)

Marian HARKIN, George LYON, Britta REIMERS, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Points out that it has always been in the interest of European unification to support women~~Recalls that the promotion of equality between men and women is a core objective of the EU;

2010/11/17
Committee: AGRI

2010/2054(INI)

Marian HARKIN, George LYON, Lena EK, Britta REIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that efforts are needed to create living conditions in rural areas which ~~correspond to those in urban areas while reflecting the realities of the countryside, in order to~~ offer women the prospect of staying and making a successful life there;

2010/11/17
Committee: AGRI

2010/2054(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls, in this regard, for further efforts to be undertaken to equip all rural areas with the most up-to-date IT -infrastructure (~~e.g.~~such as broadband), as well as transport infrastructure;

2010/11/17
Committee: AGRI

2010/2054(INI)

Marian HARKIN, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Calls for rural development strategies to place special emphasis on the role of women in helping to achieve the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy, in particular initiatives focusing on innovation, research and development;

2010/11/17
Committee: AGRI

2010/2054(INI)

Britta REIMERS, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Points out the need, especially in rural areas, for sustainable strategies to maintain ~~women’s~~the vocational skills ~~while they~~ of women who decide to take a career br~~ing~~eak to bring up families or act~~ing~~ as carers; calls for the reconciling of work and family life to be facilitated, with a view to enabling women to become or remain involved, and further develop their involvement, in various types of work;

2010/11/17
Committee: AGRI

2010/2054(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls for women's entrepreneurial spirit to be encouraged, ~~for support to be given to~~in particular through promotion of women ownership, networks of female entrepreneurs, and ~~also for provision to be made~~provision in the financial sector for affording rural businesswomen, including individually self-employed or part-time self-employed women with low earnings, access to ~~investmen~~credit – thus empowering them more effectively in the marketplace and enabling them to develop businesses from which they can make a stable living;

2010/11/17
Committee: AGRI

2010/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital E

E. whereas~~, whilst~~ the Internet is the fastest growing retail channel and e-commerce is steadily increasing at national level, the gap between domestic and cross-border e-commerce in the EU is widening and European consumers, particularly those in the smaller EU Member States, face geographical, technical and organisational restrictions in their choices,

2010/05/18
Committee: ITRE

2010/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the importance of enhancing the current low level of consumer confidence and trust in cross-border transactions by strengthening the online and cross-border enforcement of existing rules, empowering consumer protection authorities, promoting cooperation between public authorities, and setting up efficient EU-wide mechanisms for market monitoring and audits, complaint-handling, dispute resolution and collective redress;Does not affect English version.

2010/05/18
Committee: ITRE

2010/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the significance of promoting EU-wide logos, trust marks and quality marks that will help consumers in identifying reputable online traders and will support EU companies in their efforts to reach beyond their home market;deleted

2010/05/18
Committee: ITRE

2010/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the importance of enhancing confidence in cross-border Internet payment systems (e.g., credit and debit cards and e-purses) by promoting a range of payment methods, enhancing interoperability and common standards, tackling technical barriers, supporting the most secure technologies for electronic transactions, harmonising and strengthening legislation on privacy and security issues, combating fraudulent activities and informing and educating the public;

2010/05/18
Committee: ITRE

2010/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Believes that cross-border web searching and advertising within the EU should be encouraged, thus improving information for consumers and traders and enhancing their ability to make cross- border comparisons and identify cross- border offers; to this end, calls for close cooperation with the industry and for the promotion of the .eu domains;deleted

2010/05/18
Committee: ITRE

2010/0306(NLE)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Antonyia PARVANOVA

Proposal for a directive
Recital 16

(16) Existing Community legislation does not lay down specific rules ensuring safe and sustainable management of spent fuel and radioactive waste at all stages, from generation to disposal or final storage.

2011/04/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/0306(NLE)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Antonyia PARVANOVA

Proposal for a directive
Recital 25

(25) The operation of nuclear reactors also generates spent fuel. Each Member State may define its fuel cycle policy considering spent fuel as a valuable resource that may be reprocessed, or deciding to dispose of it as waste or to place it in final storage. Whatever option is chosen, the disposal or final storage of high level waste, separated at reprocessing, or of spent fuel regarded as waste should be considered.

2011/04/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/0306(NLE)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3

(3) Radioactive waste shall be disposed of in the Member State in which it was generated, unless agreements are concluded between Member States to use disposal or final storage facilities in one of them; no shipments of waste outside the EU should be allowed.

2011/04/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/0306(NLE)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Corinne LEPAGE, Antonyia PARVANOVA

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a

(a) a national programme for implementation of the policy on spent fuel and radioactive waste management that secures that all radioactive waste producers are in a position to ensure the disposal or final storage of nuclear waste in accordance with the same high safety standards;

2011/04/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/0306(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a

(a) a national programme, respecting subsidiarity, for implementation of the policy on spent fuel and radioactive waste management;

2011/04/15
Committee: ITRE

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 a (new)

The following article shall be inserted: "Article 1a Annual report to the European Parliament The Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament on the progress of projects and the facility."

2010/07/15
Committee: ITRE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 a (new)

(5a) The procedural position of children should be enhanced in accordance with their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5 b (new)

(5b) The authorities have a duty to acquire a good understanding of children and how they behave when faced with traumatic experiences, so as to ensure a high quality of evidence-taking and to reduce the stress placed on children when carrying out the necessary measures. This requires increased international cooperation and needs the authorities to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for investigations involving children.

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13

(13) Child pornography, which constitutes sex abuse images, is a specific type of content which cannot be construed as the expression of an opinion. To combat it, it is necessary to reduce the circulation of child abuse material by making it more difficult for offenders to upload such content onto the publicly accessible Web. Action is therefore necessary to remove the content at source and apprehend those guilty of making, distributing or downloading child abuse images. The EU, in particular through increased cooperation with third countries and international organisations, should seek to facilitate the effective removal by third country authorities of websites containing child pornography, which are hosted in their territory. However as, despite such efforts, the removal of child pornography content at its source proves to be difficult where the original materials are not located within the EU, mechanisms should also be put in place to block access from the Union's territory to internet pages identified as containing or disseminating child pornography. For that purpose, different mechanisms can be used as appropriate, including facilitating the competent judicial or police authorities to order such blocking, or supporting and stimulating Internet Service Providers on a voluntary basis to develop codes of conduct and guidelines for blocking access to such Internet pages. Both wWith a view to the removal ~~and the blocking~~ of child abuse content, cooperation between public authorities should be established and strengthened, particularly in the interest of ensuring that national lists of websites containing child pornography material are as complete as possible and of avoiding duplication of work. Any such developments must take account of the rights of the end users, adhere to existing legal and judicial procedures and comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Safer Internet Programme has set up a network of hotlines whose goal is to collect information and to ensure coverage and exchange of reports on the major types of illegal content online.

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13 a (new)

(13a) The Commission should investigate the risks and possible downsides associated with blocking of websites. The investigation should assess the risk for erosion of the democratic rights of European citizens and take into account the prevalent use of blocking of websites in totalitarian societies to limit freedom of expression.

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – title

~~Blocking access to websites containing~~Technical measures to delete online child pornography

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to obtain the blocking of access by Internet users in their territory to Internet pages containing or disseminating child pornography. The blocking of access shall be subject to adequate safeguards, in particular to ensure that the blocking is limited to what is necessary, that users are informed of the reason for the blocking and that content providers, as far as possible, are informed of the possibility of challenging it.deleted

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. The Commission should investigate the risks and possible downsides associated with blocking of websites. The investigation should assess the risk for erosion of the democratic rights.

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2010/0064(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2

~~Without prejudice to the above,~~ Member States shall take the necessary measures to obtain the removal at source of internet pages containing or disseminating child pornography.

2011/01/19
Committee: LIBE

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas since the background to the reform is one of economic crisis and serious financial difficulties facing Member States, taxpayers, farmers and consumers, we must set out a coherent and credible way forward for the CAP post-2013;

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas agri-environmental indicators show an important potential for the agricultural sector in the effort to mitigate the effects of climate change, particularly with regard to carbon sequestration and the production of renewable energy; whereas aGood Agricultural Practi~~vity~~ce is essential for the preservation of biodiversity, water management and combating soil erosion and can be a key factor in addressing climate change,

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas the EU must continue to ensure ~~food security~~the availability of supplies for its citizens as well as help feed the world's poor through free and fair trade; whereas the number of hungry people now exceeds 1 billion and in the European Union today there are over 40 million poor people who do not have enough to eat,

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital R

R. whereas according to the latest Eurobarometer, while most Europeans do not know what the CAP is, 90% of EU citizens surveyed consider agriculture and rural areas to be important for Europe's future, 83% of EU citizens surveyed are in favour of financial support to farmers and, on average, they believe that agricultural policy should continue to be decided upon at European level,

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the CAP is, together with the trade policy, one of the most integrated of all EU policies and ~~therefore logically~~ accounts for the largest share of the EU budget; recognises that its share of the budget has steadily decreased from about 75% of the total EU budget in 1985 to 39.3% by 20135 , representing less than 0.45% of total EU GDP6 , whilst at the same time support is more thinly spread today with 12 new Member States joining the EU;

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Points out that the availability of supplies which, as stated in Article 39 of the Lisbon Treaty, should reach the consumers at reasonable prices, is of great importance since basic food security remains ~~the~~a central challenge for EU agriculture as the world population is predicted to grow from 6 to 9 billion by 2050 and demand for food will double by 2050 according to the FAO (especially in emerging economies such as China or India);

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Believes that the global energy crisis and increasing energy prices is a great opportunity for farmers to add an additional revenue stream to their income by increasing their production of alternative energy, thereby creating new jobs and contribute to solve the climate crises;

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Believes that the CAP must provide immediate responses to the effects of the economic crisis on farming businesses such as the lack of access to credit for farmers, constraints on farm incomes7 , lack of viable private insurance solutions, and increasing rural unemployment;

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Is of the opinion that ~~a strong~~in view of the Europe 2020 strategy, a smart, sustainable and inclusive European Common Agricultural Policy is needed to ensure that EU farmers remain competitive on the world market against well subsidised trading partners; believes that free and fair trade can help the EU ~~can~~not ~~afford to~~to solely rely on other parts of the world to provide for European basic food security in the context of climate change, political instability in certain regions of the world and potential outbreaks of diseases or other events potentially detrimental to production capacity;

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Is of the opinion that a strong European Common Agricultural Policy is needed to ensure that EU farmers remain competitive on the world market against well subsidised trading partners, while at the same time not undermining agricultural production in developing countries; believes that the EU cannot afford to rely on other parts of the world to provide for European basic food security in the context of climate change, political instability in certain regions of the world and potential outbreaks of diseases or other events potentially detrimental to production capacity;

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Recalls that one of the main reasons why the EU needs a strong CAP is to contribute to the development of viable ~~and~~, dynamic and sustainable rural communities, at the heart of European cultural diversity, and with a view to ensuring sustainable and balanced socio- economic development across all European territory;

2010/04/29
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Points out that there is an urgent need to attract younger generations to rural areas and provide new and alternative economic opportunities for them to ensure a sustainable rural population; recognises that the current system for CAP support has contributed to higher land prices which has had a negative impact on the possibilities of entering the agri-sector; considers that the availability of favourable loans and credit for investments in key objectives, such as animal welfare, farm efficiency and alternative energy production, must be assured.

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21 a. Believes that the CAP should be gender neutral and that both spouses should be provided with the same rights when working in the business;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Points out that farmers have the potential to deliver additional environmental benefits that match societal demands, in particular soil preservation and restoration, sound water management and quality improvement and farmland biodiversity preservation, and that they must be encouraged to do so; believes that the possibility to pay for this should be analysed;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Believes, in line with the latest research available, that without a common agricultural policy~~, unbalanced~~ and Good Agricultural Practice, unsustainable modes of production would develop across the EU (extreme intensification on the best land and widespread land abandonment in disadvantaged areas), causing serious damage to the environment; insists that the cost of support through a strong CAP is nothing compared to the costs of no action and its negative unintended consequences;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Believes that agriculture is well placed to make a major contribution to delivering the new EU 2020 Strategy priorities of tackling climate change and creating new jobs in rural areas through green growth whilst at the same time continuing to provide basic food security for European consumers by producing safe and high- quality food products;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Insists that the maintenance of farming activity across the whole of Europe is fundamental to maintain diverse and local food production and prevent the threat of land abandonment across EU territory; considers that the specific challenge of subsistence farming must be addressed in a wider policy context;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Calls for a fairer distribution of CAP payments and insists that it should be fair to farmers in both new and old Member States8 ; calls for the support to be targeted to farmers for the delivery of such public goods which the market does not reward them for; firmly believes that the processing industry should not receive CAP support;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40 a. Considers that alternative energy production is an excellent compliment to traditional farming activities to ensure a good income for farmers.

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Notes that the market fails to reward farmers for protecting the environment; therefore believes that the CAP must become greener by incentivising farmers to ~~max~~optimisze the delivery of eco-system services to further improve the sound environmental resource management of EU farmland;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Believes that farmers are well placed to contribute to green growth and respond to the energy crisis through the development of green energy in such forms as biomass, biowaste, biogas, second-generation biofuels and small-scale wind, solar and hydro energy, which will also help create new green job opportunities; believes that the machines used in agriculture should use 50 % alternative fuels by 2020;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Recognises the wide range of new priorities for the CAP and notes that the new Member States' expectation when they joined the European Union was that CAP support would, over time, reach parity with old Member States; ~~therefore calls for the 2013 CAP budget amount to be at least maintained post-2013 if the EU is to meet its current commitments and successfully deliver the new priorities;~~

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 – point 1

(1) Believes that in order to reduce the disparities in the distribution of direct support funds between Member States, the hectare basis alone will not be sufficient and, therefore, calls for additional objective criteria ~~such as a purchasing power coefficient~~ to be used to achieve an overall balanced distribution;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)

51 a. Notes that support on an area basis creates unintended consequences, such as land not being used for farming because of lock in effects, in some of the least favoured areas;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60

60. Believes that 'green growth' should be at the heart of a new rural development strategy focussing on creating new green jobs through: the development of biomass, biowaste, biogas and small-scale renewable energy production as well as encouraging the production of second-generation biofuels, investing in modernisation and innovation as well as new research and development techniques for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, providing training and advice to farmers for applying new techniques and to assist young farmers entering the industry, and adding value to high-quality products ~~through promotion and marketing measures~~;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62

62. Insists that, to complement market measures, there is an urgent need to strengthen the primary producers' position in the food chain through a range of actions to address transparency, contractual relationships and commercial practices; takes the view that possible adjustments to competition rules should also be investigated to allow the primary producer organisations to ~~grow in scale and size~~work more efficiently, equipping them with the power to stand up to major retailers and processors;

2010/04/30
Committee: AGRI

2009/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that the internet is a global public good ~~which should be run in the common~~and that the EU should act against censorship and state blocking of users from the internest;

2010/05/10
Committee: ITRE

2009/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that, to safeguard the EU interest in maintaining the internet as a global public good, internet governance should be based on a broad, balanced public-private sector model, avoiding dominance by any individual entity or group of entities and attempts by state or supra-national authorities to control the flow of information on the internet;

2010/05/10
Committee: ITRE

2009/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

~~3. Stresses that care should be taken to avoid the risk of fundamental European values being jeopardised by the participation of countries whose values differ greatly from those of Europe.~~deleted

2010/05/10
Committee: ITRE

2009/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that governments should focus on issues vital to global internet public policy and otherwise adhere to a principle of non-intervention, except as may be necessary in exceptional circumstances, and that even then their action should respect fundamental human rights and the proportionality principle;

2010/05/10
Committee: ITRE

2009/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that governments should avoid involvement in day-to-day internet management, abstain from harming innovation and competition by unnecessary and restrictive regulation and not ~~compete~~try to control what is and should remain a global public property;

2010/05/10
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the ambitious climate and energy targets the Union has set for 2020 can be met only by ~~means of~~ a mix of energy measures and other relevant measures, notably within research and innovation, and by continuously setting ambitious goals for non-ETS regulated sectors and products energy-performance,

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas ICT represents nearly 7% of the work force and over 6% of GDP, and whereas there is a serious risk the EU is loosing its lead in digital technology, there is an immediate need to step up the innovation in this sector both for the benefit of our climate and for future green jobs creation,

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas trade and business organisations, in particular in the transport and building sectors, have a key role to play in reducing energy intensity byand in this regard should also promot~~ing~~e the use of ICTs by those working in their sectors,

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the measures taken to date under the European research and innovation policy and exchanges of information and good practice need to be incorporated to best effect, and whereas EU R&D and structural funds as well as Member State actions and EIB finance mechanisms need to be coordinated in a better manner so as to create synergies,

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Asks the Commission, therefore, to submit by the end of 2010 a set of recommendations to ensure that smart metering is implemented in accordance with the timetable set out in the third energy market package and that a set of minimum functionalities for smart meters is defined in order to give consumers improved capabilities to manage their energy consumption, and to even out the demand curve, as well as to facilitate the introduction of new energy services and an innovative, harmonised and interoperable European smart grid, taking into account all proven best practices employed in some Member States; the definition of minimum functionalities should have due regard to the work being done by the European Standardization Organizations, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in defining “additional functionalities” under Mandate 441 on the standardization of smart meters;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the only means of ensuring the comparability of the data produced in the various Member States and improving energy efficiency is to adopt a common methodology for measuring energy consumption and carbon emissions; points, furthermore, to the need for rapid standardisation of ICTs ~~with a view to ensuring that technologies and services of benefit to EU citizens and businesses are placed online~~as a minimum requirement for interoperability; takes the view that standardisation should cover, in addition to measurement functions, access to contractual information and consumption data, communication with the operators' central systems over the electricity grid and remote connection and disconnection of supply;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the importance of the ICT sector's own energy consumption and urges the sector to implement the Commission's Recommendation (C(2009)7604) as soon as possible and as a minimum within the Recommendation's deadlines;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls for online services (banking, eCommerce, eGovernment, eHealth) to be developed and rolled out with a view to improving the quality of service provided to the public and, at the same time, reducing carbon emissions; calls on the Member States to develop such services, which, in addition to saving people time, lead to a reduction in ~~urban~~ travel;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on the European Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal laying down binding and enforceable targets for energy efficiency in the residential, industrial, power generation and road transport sectors by September 2010;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Stresses the importance of ICT in the planning of a new European transport policy; calls for any such plans from the Commission to include ICT solutions, amongst others, in the regulation of traffic flows and to increase intermodality in the transport sector and optimise the balance between different modes of transport;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Recommends that the scope of~~Urges the Member States to implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive be extended to include smaller buildings and incorporate ICTs into the energy efficiency implementing measures; considers that energy performance certificates for public buildings should be made publicly available and easy to compareas quickly and ambitiously as possible and in this regard also urges the Member States to lead by example in moving quickly on energy efficiency of public buildings;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Maintains that more widespread use of ICTs will stimulate European ~~industry and~~economic growth, boost the market in new energy efficiency technologies and green jobs creation; believes that ~~research has~~ significant i~~mportant role to play in this process of modern~~nvestments are needed both for R&D and the utilisation of exisationg technologies; calls on the Member States to provide the incentives for both public and private energy efficiency investment ~~geared to designing and developing easily replicable technologies to improve the quality of the environment in urban a~~s; in this respect reiterates the Member States' and the Commission's responsibility as public procurears;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses the significant role of private investments in reaching the funding levels needed and therefore believes the EU should ensure a favourable market and regulatory framework incentivising business to pursue an ambitious energy efficiency strategy; believes with these conditions that the markets will reach the goals set out for them; therefore calls on the Commission to bring forward concrete, ambitious goals as according to the potential of the different ICTs as outlined in its communication (COM(2009)0111);

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Maintains that no time should be lost in ~~promot~~deploying smart metering, with a view to optimising energy production and electricity grids;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Commends those Member States that have already in~~itiat~~troduced smart metering ~~pilot projects~~, and urges the other Member States to make progress in this area as swiftly as possible; calls on the Commission to co-finance the greatest possible number of large-scale projects, drawing on existing financial and research instruments for this purpose;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that the introduction of smart metering is only one necessary element in the construction of a European integrated smart grid; Encourages the Member States and the Commission to push forward with the application of ICT solutions to this end;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Considers it essential for the Member States to agree, by the end of 2010, on a common minimum functional ~~specification~~criteria for smart metering systems, with a view to providing consumers with information on their energy consumption and enabling them to manage it as effectively as possible; notes a minimum criteria must be providing two-way communication to ensure optimal usage of smart-metering;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2228(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission to lay down a binding timetable with ambitious ICT- driven energy-saving goals to which all ICT sectors and the Member States must adhere, with a view to meeting the carbon emissions reduction targets;

2010/03/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘Cross- Border Business to Consumer e- Commerce in the EU’ (COM(2009)0557);

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Ivailo KALFIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas we have not yet achieved a fully functioning digital single market for online services in Europe; whereas the free movement of digital services is today severely hindered by fragmented rules at national level; whereas European companies and public services will gain economic and social benefits from the use of advanced ICT services and applications,

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Ivailo KALFIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas, while broadband is available to more than 90% of the EU’s population, take-up occurs in only 50% of households,

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Sajjad KARIM, Ivailo KALFIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas competitive communications markets are important in ensuring that users receive maximum benefits in terms of choice, quality and affordable prices,

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas both Commission communication COM(2009)0557 and its mystery shopping study show that cross- border e-commerce may be highly important for European consumers.

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Asks the Commission to produce a legislative proposal for a catalogue of rights listing human rights for European citizens on the Internet;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses the importance of continuing efforts towards ubiquitous and high-speed access for all citizens and consumers, through the promotion of access to fixed and mobile Internet and the deployment of next-generation infrastructure~~; emphasises that this requires policies that promote~~ and services through the creation of incentives to support investment; emphasises that this requires policies that support competition, choice and diversity in high speed services delivering access on fair terms and at competitive prices for all communities, irrespective of location, thereby ensuring that no European citizen faces exclusion;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Ivailo KALFIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts to promote both take-up and effective use of Internet services by all citizens, as a way to foster economic growth and digital inclusion;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Ivailo KALFIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that every EU household should have access to broadband Internet at a competitive price by 2013; urges the Commission therefore to carry out a review of the universal service obligations, and calls on Member States to impart new impetus to the European high-speed broadband strategy, notably by updating national targets for broadband and high- speed coverage; calls, furthermore, upon the Commission to promote all available policy instruments to achieve broadband for all European citizens in its upcoming broadband strategy, including the use of the European Structural Funds and of the digital dividend for extending mobile broadband coverage;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of maintaining Europe as the mobile continent in the world and ensuring that 75% of mobile subscribers ~~are 3G (or beyond) users by 2015~~have access to high- speed wireless services by 2015; underlines the importance of sustained competition and innovation in wireless services; recalls the necessity to accelerate the harmonised deployment of the digital dividend in a non-discriminatory manner and without compromising existing broadcast services;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Radio Spectrum Committee to address practical and technical requirements to ensure the timely availability of spectrum, with sufficient flexibility, to enable the deployment of new technologies and services, including mobile broadband, to support the objectives of the 2015.eu agenda;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the great importance of the Internet for education and preventing and reducing social exclusion;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Vicky FORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that, as Internet access rates are increasing, 50% of EU households should be connected to high-speed networks by 2015; recalls the importance of an appropriate policy framework that enables investments and competition needed to achieve this objective;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Sajjad KARIM, Vicky FORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on Member States to fully enforce the EU telecoms framework, empower national regulators and transpose the telecoms package before the established deadline, in ~~particular~~cluding the new provisions on Next Generation Access (NGA) networks, functional separation and spectrum, which provide for a stable regulatory environment tohat stimulates investment ~~while safeguarding~~and competition;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Sajjad KARIM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on stakeholders to adopt open models for communications network deployment to help boost innovation and drive demand;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Fiona HALL, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recalls that one aim of the new electronic communications regulatory framework is progressively to reduce ex ante sector-specific rules as competition in the markets develops and, ultimately, for electronic communications to be governed by competition law only;deleted

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Fiona HALL, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Insists on safeguarding an open Internet, where citizens have the right and business users are able to access and distribute information or run applications and services of their choice, as provided for in the revised regulatory framework; calls on the Commission, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to monitor closely ~~and enforce~~market developments and the harmonised implementation of the 'net neutrality' provisions and to report to Parliament before the end of 2010;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls for a Commission study into barriers to access to the telecommunications market with a view to obtaining lower roaming charges;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Calls for a study into harmonised rules within the EU to promote a common market in cloud computing and e- commerce;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Calls for a Commission study which puts forward proposals as to how to achieve a balance between, on the one hand, an author's right to the fruits of his/her own work, and on the other hand, fundamental civil and human rights on the Internet, without in any way restricting the latter;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN, Adina-Ioana VĂLEAN, Jens ROHDE, Lena EK, Ivailo KALFIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Takes the view that, almost a decade after their adoption, the Directives concerning the legal framework for the information society ~~(i.e. the Data Protection Directive, Electronic Signatures Directive and Electronic Commerce Directive)~~ appear out of date due to the increased complexity of the online environment ~~and~~, the introduction of new technologies and the fact that EU citizens' data are increasingly processed outside of the EU; believes that, while the legal issues arising from some Directives can be resolved through an incremental update, other Directives need a more fundamental revision and that the adoption of an international framework for data protection should be promoted;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Emphasises that the Commission should not let a more thorough revision stand in the way of its ongoing assessment of the current legal framework for the information society, whilst safeguarding the existing balance of interests, in order to keep it up to date with developments in technology, consumer interests and cross- border trade;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Calls for greater investment in the use of open source software in the EU;

2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2009/2105(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27 a. Calls on the Commission to outline how it proposes to promote the local trading of environmentally friendly agricultural products;

2009/11/18
Committee: AGRI

2009/2096(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Takes the view that only by using an interoperable transport system will it be possible in future to combine most successfully the use of various transport modes and improve energy savings; stresses the urgency of rapidly increasing interoperability and, in this regard, the importance of internalising external costs in order to restore balance in the use of the various transport modes and to promote, where possible and necessary, the use of less polluting modes of transport;

2010/02/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2096(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the logistical importance of intermodal intelligent information systems and transport development; welcomes the various initiatives taken at Community level (such as SESAR, ERTMS, RIS and SafeSeaNet); calls on the Member States to step up their investment in infrastructure and in particular intermodal intelligent transport systems, to promote the use of public transport and to introduce interoperable pricing with the issuing of multimodal tickets in order to optimise the use and interoperability of the various transport modes, to reduce energy consumption and improve safety;

2010/02/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2096(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for the establishment of a common European reservation system in order to enhance the effectiveness of the various modes of transport and to simplify and increase their interoperability.

2010/02/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/2096(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Stresses the need for a fully liberalised rail sector with a view to increasing its competitiveness with other modes of transport by improving diversity of service providers, quality and service.

2010/02/03
Committee: ITRE

2009/0169(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 24

(24) In order to efficiently implement BONUS~~-169~~, during the implementation phase, financial support should be granted to participants in BONUS~~-169~~ projects selected at the central level under the responsibility of the BONUS EEIG following calls for proposals. While a real common pot would be preferable in the longer term to guarantee funding for the researchers and to ensure EU added value, existing obstacles in certain Participating States to funding external research should not delay the efficient implementation of BONUS. It is therefore appropriate, in specific cases, to allow a Participating State to temporarily devote its contribution exclusively to domestic research that is selected at central level, without jeopardising the overarching criterion of scientific excellence.

2010/03/05
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) To have a tangible and substantial impact, this investment should be focussed on a few specific sectors. These should be sectors in which: (a) the action will make a clear contribution to the objectives of security of energy supply and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; (b) there exist large, mature projects capable of making efficient and effective use of significant amounts of financial assistance and of catalysing significant amounts of investment from other sources, including the European Investment Bank; ~~and (c) action at European level can add value. The sectors of gas and electricity interconnections; offshore wind energy; and carbon capture and storage fulfil these criteria~~(ba) the long-term projects are planned to start before the end of 2010; and (c) action at European level can add value.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)

(10a) Cities have a huge potential, will and capacity to deliver sustainable development that will lead to both short- term stimulation and longer term restructuring of the EU's economy, as demonstrated by the Covenant of Mayors initiative. Cities should be encouraged to achieve and surpass the EU energy and climate targets; the EEPR should therefore place cities and energy efficiency at its centre, through the 'smart cities' project.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Lena EK, Anne LAPERROUZE, Fiona HALL

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)

(21a) Before 30 June 2009, the Commission should put before the European Parliament a proposal improving the operation of the three European Structural Funds, especially for SMEs, through, inter alia, a shortening of the time period before payment from the funds and the possibility to receive contributions from the funds in advance.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2

It establishes sub-programmes to advance those objectives in the fields of: (a) gas and electricity interconnections; (b) offshore wind energy; ~~and~~ (c) carbon capture and storage; (ca) energy efficiency, including smart cities; and (cb) other renewable energy.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3

It i~~dentifi~~ndicates projects to be financed ~~under each sub-programme~~ and lays down criteria for identifying and implementing actions to realise these projects.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point f a (new)

(fa) 'smart cities' means cities which commit to energy efficiency and renewable energy, notably in the building and transport sectors, and which coordinate at EU level notably through networks such as the Covenant of Mayors;

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. The financial envelope earmarked for projects in the Annex that do not meet the eligibility criteria in Articles 8, 14 and 19 shall immediately be redistributed to energy efficiency projects, including smart cities, and other renewable energy projects, referred to points (ca) and (cb) of Article 1, which meet the eligibility criteria set out in Article 23a.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point -a (new)

(-a) for long-term projects planned to start before the end of 2010;

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point a

(a) the project ~~timetable shall include substantial capital expenditure in 2009 and~~is a long-term project planned to start before the end of 2010;

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) the project ~~timetable shall include substantial capital expenditure in 2009 and~~is a long term project planned to start before the end of 2010.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Fiona HALL, Lena EK, Dirk STERCKX, Anne LAPERROUZE

Proposal for a regulation
Article 21

EEPR assistance shall contribute to the cost of those elements of the investment phase of the project that are only attributable to carbon capture and storage, taking account of possible operating benefits. It shall not exceed 850% of total eligible investment costs.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 a (new)

Article 23a Eligibility and selection criteria for other renewable energy and smart cities projects Proposals that are financed under the conditions of paragraph 2 of Article 3 shall be eligible for EEPR assistance if they fulfil the following conditions: - they are submitted by one or more EU city(ies); - they are planned to start before the end of 2011; - they aim to improve energy efficiency and promote other renewable energy, notably in buildings and transport sectors, which leads to both short-term stimulation and longer term restructuring of the EU's economy.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Lena EK, Dirk STERCKX, Fiona HALL

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. The Commission shall carry out a mid term evaluation of the EEPR by 30 September 2010 in order to assess the effective use made of the appropriations. Those funds which are not yet committed or reserved for running tenders shall be redirected to other renewable energy projects and energy efficiency projects, including smart cities.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2009/0010(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(ca) for smart cities by the Covenant of Mayors.

2009/03/16
Committee: ITRE

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Urges Member States to adopt without delay the measures referred to in Directive 2004/8/EC (the CHP Directive)*, which contains important provisions for the promotion of CHP and district heating, as well as combined production of heat/cooling/electricity, as these energy sources will be of great importance in future energy supply. * OJ L 52, 21.2.2004, p. 50.

2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to work actively to increase the number of operators on the energy market and in particular to adopt measures to promote energy production by small and medium-sized enterprises and their market entry;

2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Urges the Commission to submit a report to Parliament indicating what technical obstacles and standards impede investment by SMEs in energy production and their use of the existing networks to distribute the energy so produced;

2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Applauds the proposed introduction of a network of female entrepreneur ambassadors, mentoring schemes for women to set up their own businesses, and the promotion of entrepreneurship among female graduates; draws, however, attention to the fact that many enterprises are still gender-segregated, which is, and will for a long time be, a very serious problem, since as long as women are discriminated in the labour market, the EU loses able workers and entrepreneurs and as a consequence loses money; therefore believes that even more money should be invested in projects to endorse female entrepreneurs;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes the need to ensure that SMEs have the ability to buy small, buy green and buy local, thus becoming more climate friendly and efficient;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Notes the need for the "Small Business Act" to support both small enterprises and medium sized enterprises so as to ensure that owners of both small enterprises and medium sized enterprises feel equally supported;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Points out that the main source of funding for SMEs comes from their own activity; calls on Member States to provide better conditions to enable SMEs to reduce costs and reinvest the profit in the company; stresses also the need for SMEs to have access to finance in order to prevent them from facing bankruptcy in the wake of the current financial crisis;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recognises that capital taxation can be a deterrent to the transfer of businesses, in particular family businesses, increasing the risk of liquidation or closure of the company; ~~calls~~notes the need to examine how payment periods can be shortened for SMEs in order to ensure payment potential and capital requirement; calls therefore on Member States to review carefully their legal and fiscal framework to improve the conditions for transfer of businesses, employment ~~and~~, reinvestment of profit and payment periods;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Notes the need for implementation of the Services Directive in all Member States to ensure a well functioning and growing Single Market through growth within the services sector;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Stresses the need to use appropriate timing in communication and interaction between SMEs and public authorities;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Calls for a special EU website for SMEs which shall contain information and application forms for EU projects, national telephone numbers, links to partners, trade information, information on research projects as well as internet consultation, briefings and information about new regulation;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)

26b. Calls for 30 days payment from EU cohesion funds to already approved projects, so as to assure the continued progress, survival and effect of these projects;

2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/2214(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. Whereas, in view of the fact that several Member States have not submitted a national energy efficiency plan, the Commission must take measures to encourage more Member States to implement decisions taken in that area,

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/2214(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Considers that SMEs have an important role to play in improving energy efficiency but that they do not have the same capacity to comply with legislation or new standards in the energy sector; considers, therefore, that the facilities which will be created by the Small Business Act should also handle information and contacts with SMEs concerning energy efficiency;

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/2214(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Calls on the Member States to incorporate, in their existing structures for contacts between government agencies and the public, information on energy efficiency, best practice in those areas and consumer rights which have been established in the energy and climate sector;

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/2214(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Considers it necessary for the National Action Plans to place special emphasis on how governments intend to promote energy efficiency investments on the part of SMEs; stresses, therefore, that particular account should be taken of such investments when the National Action Plans are drawn up;

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/2214(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Considers that the Commission should encourage those Member States which have not yet adopted their national energy efficiency plan to implement decisions which have been taken in that area;

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/2212(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Stresses the importance of actively working to make new alternative energy accessible to small businesses in order to make them less dependent on oil price fluctuations;

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/2212(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Welcomes the fact that many small businesses are now endeavouring to create and produce alternative energy but is concerned that numerous technical rules and standards make it difficult for them to sell the energy they produce or their surplus energy; considers, therefore, that the Commission should be instructed to draw up a report on the possibilities open to small businesses to produce energy and distribute it via networks owned by other companies and on any other form of technical regulation which may prevent or impede such a development;

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes the importance of skilled and trained entrepreneurs in facing the challenges of international business; calls therefore on the Commission and the Member States to increase the provision of training programmes for entrepreneurs on the globalised business environment (such as the Enterprise Europe Network or "Gateway to China" scheme); calls for increased cooperation between SMEs and universities in order to improve research and innovation; calls on the Commission to consider the creation of a special EU exchange programme for young entrepreneurs based on the Erasmus / Leonardo da Vinci programmes;

2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses the importance of ensuring, during the current financial crisis, the proper functioning of capital finance markets, in which SMEs play an important part; envisages therefore the need to open structural funds for shorter control periods to ensure a necessary flow of capital;

2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Notes the need to examine how payment periods for SMEs could be shortened in order to ensure payment potential and capital requirement; calls therefore on the Commission to propose appropriate measures in this area;

2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Notes the important role of SMEs in climate change technology transfer and the importance of the SMEs active participation in development aid;

2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/2171(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls for increased cooperation on climate-friendly techniques between Chinese and European regions and cities;

2008/11/20
Committee: ITRE

2008/2171(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for increased cooperation between European and Chinese universities and increased mobility for scientists, researchers and students between the EU and China;

2008/11/20
Committee: ITRE

2008/2171(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on China to promote cooperation between Chinese universities and EU SMEs to enhance SME innovation in China, thus creating more jobs and increasing trade and economic output; calls also on China to promote cooperation between the two parties to improve and enhance climate-friendly techniques to minimise greenhouse gas emission caused by EU SMEs in China;

2008/11/20
Committee: ITRE

2008/2171(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on EU and China to cooperate on standards on cars, trucks, heavy vehicles, aviation and shipping, in order to lower greenhouse gas emissions and make them more climate-friendly.

2008/11/20
Committee: ITRE

2008/2171(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls for cooperation on the regulation, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACH) between the EU and China.

2008/11/20
Committee: ITRE

2008/2097(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the ~~European Institute for Gender Equality~~Commission to carry out research on gender mainstreaming in EU external missions;

2008/09/15
Committee: FEMM

2008/2097(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Points out that Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programmes should ~~include specific provisions for female~~take account of the different needs of female, male and child ex-combatants;

2008/09/15
Committee: FEMM

2008/2097(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses that, when elections in a post- conflict country are held, the participation of women should be supported ~~through specific programmes and with quotas~~ at all levels;

2008/09/15
Committee: FEMM

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Suggests that the Commission rethink the notion of a fixed quota for biofuels and instead develop flexible scenarios which take account not only of the growing worldwide need for agricultural land for food and feedstuffs but also of the question of the need to import biofuels into the EU, with a view to meeting the requirements of individual mobility and goods transport in future;deleted

2008/10/10
Committee: CLIM

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6

(6) ~~While e~~Each Member State is free to decide on its energy mix, after a period of reflection, interest in the construction of new plants has grown and some Member States decided to licence new plants. Furthermore, requests for nuclear power plant life extensions are expected to be presented by licence holders in the years to come.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7

(7) Nuclear security is a matter of Community interest, which should be taken into consideration in the event of decisions on licensing new plants and/or extending the lifetime of nuclear installations. For this purpose best practices should be developed to guide the regulatory bodies and Member States when deciding whether or not to license new plants as well as in their decisions on the lifetime extension of nuclear installations.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5

(5) The European Council of March 2007 emphasised the need to increase energy efficiency in the Community so as to achieve the objective of reducing by 20 % the Community's energy consumption by 2020 and called for a thorough and rapid implementation of the priorities established in the Communication of the Commission "Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential" . This Action Plan identified the significant potential for cost- effective energy savings in the buildings sector. The European Parliament, in its resolution of 31 January 2008, has called for strengthening the provisions of Directive 2002/91/EC, and has called at various times, on the latest occasion in its resolution on the Second Strategic Energy Review, for the 20% energy efficiency target in 2020 to be made binding. Moreover, decision No .../2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on effort sharing, for which energy efficiency in the building sector will be crucial, sets national binding targets for CO2 reduction outside the ETS, and Directive 2009/.../EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable energy sources calls for the promotion of energy efficiency in the context of a binding target renewable energy accounting for 20% of total EU energy consumption by 2020.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9

(9) The energy performance of buildings should be calculated on the basis of a methodology, which may be differentiated at national and regional level, and that includes, in addition to thermal characteristics, other factors that play an increasingly important role such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installations, application of renewable energy sources, passive heating and cooling elements, shading, ~~indoor air-quality,~~ adequate natural light and design of the building. The methodology for calculating energy performance should not only be based on the season where heating is required, but should cover the annual energy performance of a building.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13

(13) Buildings have an impact on long- term energy consumption and new buildings should therefore meet minimum energy performance requirements adapted to the local climate. As the application of alternative energy supply systems is generally not explored to its full potential~~, the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of~~ alternative energy supply systems should be considered for new and existing buildings, regardless of their size ~~of the building~~.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14

(14) Major renovations of existing buildings, regardless of their size, provide an opportunity to take cost-effective measures to enhance energy performance~~. For reasons of cost-efficiency, it should be possible to limit the minimum energy performance requirements to the renovated parts that are most relevant for the energy performance of the building~~ of the whole building. Setting requirements for cost-effective measures will ensure that no barriers are created which might discourage major renovations from being undertaken.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)

(14a) Studies show that the construction sector suffers from inefficiency, which leads to end-user costs that are significantly higher than the optimal costs. Calculations show that the costs for construction could be reduced by as much as 30-35 % through reducing waste in most construction processes and for most products. The inefficiency in the construction sector poses a major threat to the aim and purpose of this Directive, since the unjustified high costs for construction and renovation reduces the cost-effectiveness and thereby the energy- effectiveness of the sector. In order to guarantee the proper functioning of this Directive, the Commission should evaluate the functioning of the construction market and report its conclusions and suggestions to the Member States and the European Parliament, and Member States should strive to ensure transparent pricing in the field of construction and renovation, and in addition take appropriate measures to remove barriers of entry to the market, and to relevant facilities and infrastructure, for new entrants, especially for SMEs.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15

(15) Measures are needed to increase the number of buildings which not only fulfil current minimum energy performance requirements, but are more energy efficient. For this purpose Member States should draw up national plans for increasing the number of existing buildings of which ~~both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero and regularly report them to the Commission~~are net zero energy, and for ensuring that all new buildings are net zero energy by 2016.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)

(17a) In accordance with the requirements on the installation of smart meters laid down in Directive 2006/32/EC, owners and tenants should be supplied with accurate real-time information on energy consumption in the buildings that they occupy.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 b (new)

(17b) Public authorities should lead by example and should implement the recommendations included in the energy performance certificate within its validity period. Member States should include within their national plans measures, including financial measures, to support public authorities to become early adopters of energy efficiency improvements and to implement the recommendations included in the energy performance certificate within its validity period. In developing the national plans, Member States should consult the representatives of local and regional authorities.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 21 a (new)

(21a) In so far as the access or pursuit of the profession of installer is a regulated profession, the preconditions for the recognition of professional qualifications are laid down in Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. This Directive therefore applies without prejudice to Directive 2005/36/EC. While Directive 2005/36/EC lays down requirements for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, including for architects, there is a further need to ensure that architects and planners properly consider high- efficiency technologies in their plans and designs. Member States should therefore provide clear guidance. This should be done without prejudice to the provisions of Directive 2005/36/EC and in particular Articles 46 and 49 thereof.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1

This Directive promotes the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the Community, taking into account outdoor climatic and local conditions, as well as indoor climate requirements and cost-~~effectiveness~~optimal levels of energy performance.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point a

(a) the general framework for a methodology of calculation of the integrated energy performance of buildings and parts thereof and of the building’s envelope components and technical building systems;

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point c

(c) the application of minimum requirements on the energy performance of existing buildings ~~and parts thereof~~ that are subject to major renovation and of the building’s envelope components and technical building systems whenever they are replaced or retrofitted;

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point d

(d) national plans for increasing the number of buildings of which ~~both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal zero~~have net zero energy consumption;

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point g a (new)

(ga) education, training and mutual recognition requirements between Member States for certifiers of the energy performance of buildings and for inspectors of heating and air-conditioning systems.

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 1 a (new)

(1a) “net zero energy building” means a building where the overall annual primary energy consumption is no more than the renewable energy production on site;

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 5

(5) "building envelope" means the elements of a building which separate its interior from the outdoor environment~~, including the windows, walls, foundation, basement slab, ceiling, roof, and insulation~~;

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 5 a (new)

(5a) “envelope component” means an individual part of the building which influences the energy performance of the building and which is not covered by the technical building system definition, and includes windows, exterior doors, shading, walls, foundations, basement slab, ceiling, and roof (including insulation).

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 10

(10) "cost-optimal level" means the ~~lowest level of~~economic optimum between energy performance and costs during the life- cycle of a building, which are determined taking into account investment costs, maintenance and operating costs (including energy costs), earnings from energy produced, where applicable, and disposal costs, where applicable;

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 14 a (new)

(14a) 'energy poverty' means the situation where a household has to spend more than 10% of its revenue on energy bills in order to heat its home to an acceptable standard based on the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation;

2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that minimum energy performance requirements for existing buildings a~~re set with a view to achieving~~nd for components and technical building systems and parts thereof, are set to achieve at least cost- optimal levels and are calculated in accordance with the methodology referred to in Article 3.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

When setting requirements, Member States may differentiate between ~~new and existing buildings and between~~ different categories of buildings.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

These requirements shall take account of general indoor climate conditions, in order to avoid possible negative effects such as inadequate ventilation, inadequate natural lighting, as well as local conditions and the designated function and the age of the building.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a

(a) buildings officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historic merit, ~~where~~in so far as compliance with ~~the~~a specific minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance;

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c

(c) temporary buildings with a planned time of use of ~~two~~one years or less, industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand and non-residential agricultural buildings which are in use by a sector covered by a national sectoral agreement on energy performance;

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3

3. ~~As from 30 June 2014~~ Member States shall not provide incentives for the construction or renovation of buildings or parts thereof which do not comply with minimum energy performance requirements achieving the results of the calculation referred to in Article 5(2).

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 4

4. ~~As from~~No later than 30 June 20174, ~~where~~ Member States shall review their minimum energy performance requirements set in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article ~~they~~and shall ensure that these requirements achieve the results of the calculation referred to in Article 5(2).

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

They shall report to the Commission all input data and assumptions used for these calculations and all calculation results. The report ~~may~~shall be included in the Energy Efficiency Action Plans referred to in Article 14(2) of Directive 2006/32/EC. Member States shall submit to the Commission those reports every three years. The first report shall be submitted by 30 June 2011 at the latest.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

1. Member States shall prioritise energy efficiency and take the necessary measures to ensure that new buildings meet the minimum energy performance requirements set in accordance with Article 4.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 - introductory part

~~For new buildings,~~ Member States shall also ensure that~~, before construction starts, the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of~~ the following alternative systems isare considered and taken into account before construction of new buildings starts:

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point c

(c) district or block heating or cooling, if available, particularly that based entirely or partially on renewable energy;

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point d

(d) heat pumps as defined in Directive 2009/.../EC on the promotion of the use energy from renewable sources.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7

Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that when buildings undergo major renovation or building components, including envelope components, and technical building systems or parts thereof are retrofitted or replaced, their energy performance is upgraded in order to meet minimum energy performance requirements ~~in so far as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible~~. Member states shall determine these minimum energy performance requirements in accordance with Article 4. The requirements ~~may~~shall be set for both the renovated ~~building as a whole or for the renovated systems or components when these are part of a~~systems and components whenever they are retrofitted or replaced, and for the renovated building as a whole in the case of a major renovation. Member States shall ensure that, as in Article 6, in the event of any major renovation, t~~o be carried out within a limited time period, with the objective of improving the overall energy performance of the building or parts thereof.~~ he following alternative systems are considered and taken into account: (a) decentralised energy supply systems based on renewable energy; (b) cogeneration; (c) district or block heating or cooling, if available, particularly that based entirely or partially on renewable energy; (d) heat pumps as defined in Directive 2009/.../EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8

Technical building systems and building components 1. Member States shall set cost-optimal minimum energy performance requirements in respect of technical building systems which are installed in buildings and of building components. Requirements shall be set for new, replacement and retrofit of technical building systems and building components and parts thereof. The requirements shall in particular, but not exclusively, cover the following components: (a) boilers or other heat generators of heating systems including district or block heating and cooling; (b) water heaters in hot water systems; (c) central air conditioning unit or cold generator in air-conditioning systems.; (ca) installed lighting (cb) building components as defined in Article 2(5) 2. The minimum energy performance requirements set in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be consistent with ~~the~~any legislation applicable to the product(s) which compose the systems and building components and be based on proper installation of the product(s) and appropriate adjustment and control of the technical building system. In ~~particular~~the case of technical building systems, those requirements shall ensure that a proper hydraulic balance of hydraulic wet heating systems is achieved and that the appropriate size and type of the product(s) have been used for the installation having regard to the intended use of the technical building system.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Member States shall ensure that smart meters are installed in all new and renovated buildings and whenever a meter is replaced, and shall encourage the installation of active control systems such as automation, control and monitoring systems where appropriate, in order to allow consumers to receive proper information on their energy usage; to allow highly efficient output-time control manually and/or by building automation systems; and to serve as a data provider for implementing Articles 3, 4, 5 and 10 and Annex I.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9

Buildings ~~of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero~~with net zero energy consumption 1. Member States shall draw up national plans for increasing the number of buildings ~~of which bo~~with net zero energy consumption. 1a. By 2012 in the ca~~rbon dioxide emissions and primary~~se of buildings occupied by public authorities and otherwise by 2016, Member States shall ensure that all new buildings have net zero energy consumption ~~are low or equal to zero. They~~. 1b. Member States shall set targets for 2015 and for 2020 for the minimum percentage ~~which those buildings in 2020 shall constitut~~of existing buildings which shall be net zero energy buildings, measured as a percentage of the total number of buildings and ~~represent~~as a percentage in relation to the total useful floor area. ~~Separate targets shall be set for: (a) new and refurbished~~Member States shall set separate targets for: (a) residential buildings; (b) ~~new and refurbished~~ non-residential buildings; (c) buildings occupied by public authorities. ~~Member States shall set the targets referred to in point (c) taking into account the leading role which public authorities should play in the field of energy performance of buildings.~~ 2. The national plan referred to in paragraph 1 shall include inter alia the following elements: (a) the Member State's definition of buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero; (b) intermediate targets expressed as a percentage which those buildings shall constitute of the total number of buildings and represent in relation to the total useful floor area in 2015; with net zero energy consumption; (ba) details of the Member State's requirements concerning minimum levels of energy for renewable sources in new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major renovation, as required under Directive 2008/xx/EC on promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and Article 6 and 7 of this Directive; (c) information campaigns on the measures undertaken for the promotion of those buildings; (ca) national, regional or local programmes to support energy performance measures such as fiscal incentives, financial instruments or reduced VAT. 3. Member States shall communicate the national plans referred to in paragraph 1 to the Commission by 30 June 2011 at the latest and report to the Commission every three years on the progress in implementing their national plans. The national plans and progress reports ~~may~~shall be included in the Energy Efficiency Action Plans referred to in Article 14(2) of Directive 2006/32/EC. 4. The Commission shall establish common principles for defining buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero. Those measures designed to amend non- essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 21(2). 5. T3a. Within two months of notification of a national plan by a Member State under paragraph 3, the Commission, taking full account of the subsidiary principle, may reject that plan, or any aspect thereof, on the basis that it does not respect all of the requirements of this Article. In this case, Member State shall propose amendments. Within one month of receiving these proposals, the Commission shall accept the amended plan or request further specific amendments. The Commission and the Member State concerned shall take all reasonable steps to agree the national plan within five months of the date of the initial notification. 5. By 2016, the Commission shall publish a report on the progress of Member States in increasing the number of buildings ~~of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero~~with net zero energy consumption. On the basis of this report the Commission shall develop a strategy, and, if necessary, propose measures to increase the number of those buildings.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 a (new)

Article 9a Financial Support 1. By 30 June 2010 the Commission shall bring forward appropriate proposals to establish financial mechanisms to support the implementation of the requirements laid down in Articles 5 to 9. These proposals shall include: (a) an increase to the maximum amount of the European Regional Development Fund allocation that can be used to support energy efficiency and renewable energy investments under Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006. This maximum shall be raised to at least 15% of the total allocation; (b) an extension of the eligibility of energy efficiency and renewables projects for contributions from the European Regional Development Fund - at the very least so that all Member States become eligible for funding for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy for housing; (c) use of other Community funds to support research and development, information campaigns or training related to energy efficiency; (d) increase accessibility to loans from the European Investment Bank, including a lowering of the €25M minimum threshold for such loans, with the aim of mobilising public money and private investment for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects implemented within Member States for the purposes of implementation of this Directive; (e) reduced VAT for services and products related to the improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings and for renewable energy services and products to promote the increased use of renewable energy in buildings. 2. Member States shall implement two or more financial support mechanisms according to the procedure in Annex V. The energy performance certificates referred to in Article 10 shall indicate which mechanisms are available to finance implementation of the recommendations for the cost effective improvement of the energy performance of the building concerned. 3. Financial or fiscal incentives shall support the execution of the recommendations included in the energy performance certificate. 4. In implementing the requirements under paragraphs 1 and 2, the Commission and Member States shall, in particular, implement measures aimed at supporting investments in energy efficiency improvements for those at risk of energy poverty, including Energy Performance Contracting.

2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Member States shall ensure that public authorities and public and private institutions which normally provide financing for the purchase or renovation of buildings in the Member State agree to accept the ratings and recommendations from energy performance certificates issued under their national and regional certification schemes as being of sufficient quality to form a basis for determining the level and conditions of financial incentives, fiscal measures and loan conditions.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 4

4. The energy performance certificate shall provide an indication as to where the owner or tenant can receive more detailed information regarding the recommendations given in the certificate. In addition, it shall contain information on the steps to be taken to implement the recommendations, including information on available fiscal and financial incentives and financing possibilities.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. The Commission shall adopt, by 30 June 2010, guidelines specifying minimum standards for the content and presentation of energy performance certificates. The content of the certificate shall, where feasible, be available in languages understood by the owner and tenant. That measure, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 21(2). Each Member State shall recognise certificates awarded by other Member States in accordance with these guidelines and shall not restrict the freedom to provide financial services for reasons relating to the certificate issued in another Member State.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. By 2011, on the basis of information received from Member States and in consultation with the relevant sectors, a voluntary common European Union certification for energy performance of buildings shall be developed through the committee procedure referred to in Article 21. Member States shall, by 2012, introduce in their territories this European Union voluntary certification which shall function alongside the national certification scheme.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. All systems providing ventilation, regardless of the cooling power, shall be inspected and the inspection shall include an assessment of the airflows.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 2

Member States shall in particular provide information to the owners or tenants of buildings on energy performance certificates and inspection reports, their purpose and objectives, on cost-effective ways to improve the energy performance of the building ~~and~~, on mid- and long-term financial consequences if no action is taken and on financial instruments available to improve the energy performance of the building. Information campaigns shall aim to encourage owners or tenants to meet and go beyond minimum standards.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex I – point 1

1. The energy performance of a building shall be determined on the basis of the calculated or actual annual energy that is consumed in order to meet the different needs associated with its typical use and shall reflect the heating energy needs and cooling energy needs (energy needed to avoid over-heating) to maintain the envisaged temperature conditions of the building. Consumption shall be balanced where applicable against energy produced by renewable energy sources on site.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IV a (new)

Annex IVa Financial instruments for improving the energy performance of buildings 1. To support the improvement of energy performance of buildings, Member States shall implement two or more of the following financial instruments: (a) VAT reductions for energy saving, high energy performance and renewable energy goods and services; (b) other tax reductions for energy saving goods and services or energy efficient buildings, including fiscal rebates on income or property taxes; (c) direct subsidies; (d) subsidised loan schemes or low interest loans; (e) grant schemes; (f) loan guarantee schemes; (g) requirements on or agreements with energy suppliers to offer financial assistance to all categories of consumer, including Energy Performance Contracting; (h) any other financial or fiscal instruments that alone or in combination with other measures meet the qualification standards of paragraph 2. 2. Financial or fiscal incentives referred to in paragraph 1 shall with regards to the aim of this Directive be sufficient, effective, transparent and non- discriminatory, support the execution of the recommendations included in the energy performance certificate, and shall in particular strive to encourage large improvements of a building's energy performance where an improvement otherwise would not be economically feasible. 3. Member States shall report in their national energy efficiency action plans on the financial instruments and mechanisms introduced under paragraph 1, including a preliminary assessment of how the quality criterions in paragraph 2 are met.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2

(2) The scope of Council Directive 92/75/EEC is restricted to household appliances; the Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan has shown that the extension of the scope of the Directive to energy-related products, notably construction products, which have an impact on energy consumption during use, could reinforce potential synergies between existing legislative measures, and in particular with Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, and bring additional energy savings and environmental gains.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)

(3a) Given that buildings account for 40 % of the energy used in the EU and that the revision of the energy performance of buildings directive (2002/91/EC) aims at promoting cost-effective improvement of the overall energy performance of buildings, the inclusion in this context of certain energy-related construction products within the scope of this Directive will make it easier for private households to choose the most energy- and cost- efficient product when renovating their buildings.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 b (new)

(3b) In order to ensure predictability for manufacturers and clarity for end-users, the Commission should update the list in Annex Ia of construction products that fall within the scope of this directive, and which consequently will be covered by the Member State’s implementation measures.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)

(12a) The provisions of this Directive concerning the content of advertisement should only be considered as an extraordinary measure. These provisions should therefore not restrict advertising in any other way under any other Community legislation.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)

(15a) When Member States implement the relevant provisions in this Directive, they should strive to refrain from measures that could impose unnecessarily bureaucratic and unwieldy obligations for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and, to the extent feasible, take into consideration the special needs as well as the financial and administrative limits of SMEs.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2

2. This Directive shall apply to energy- related products, notably construction products, which have a significant impact on the consumption of energy and, where relevant, on other essential resources during use.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. By June 30 2010 the Commission shall update the list in Annex Ia of construction products that are deemed to be energy-related in the context of this Directive.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – indent 1 a (new)

- construction product: an energy-related product used in the construction and/or renovation of buildings, and covered by Annex Ia of this Directive;

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – point 2 a (new)

(2a) any advertisement of energy-related products where technical specifications are disclosed must also provide end-users with the necessary information regarding energy consumption or energy performance of the product in question;

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex I a (new)

Annex Ia Construction products covered by the scope of this Directive 1. The following construction products are covered by the scope of this Directive: - Windows; - Outer doors; 2. The Commission may in accordance with article 1(3) update point 1 of this Annex.

2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)

(17a) Potential purchasers should be provided with supplementary standardised information which explains each of the components of the label - fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise emissions - and their relevance, and includes a fuel savings calculator which demonstrates average savings of fuel, CO2 and costs. This information should be provided on the EU tyre labelling website and on explanatory leaflets and posters at all points of sale. The website address should be clearly indicated on the label and all technical promotional literature.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 20 a (new)

(20a) Member States should strive, in implementing the relevant provisions of this Directive, to refrain from measures that impose unjustified, bureaucratic and unwieldy obligations on SMEs, and, where feasible, to take into consideration the special needs and financial and administrative constraints on SMEs.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – point 5 a (new)

(5a) ‘EU tyre labelling website’ means a central online source of explanatory and supplementary information regarding each of the components of the tyre label and including a fuel savings calculator, administered by the Commission;

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – point 5 b (new)

(5b) ‘fuel savings calculator’ means a tool provided on the EU tyre labelling website and through explanatory leaflets and posters, to demonstrate potential average savings of fuel (as a percentage, in litres and euros) and CO2 reduction, for C1, C2 and C3 tyres;

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 a (new)

Article 3a Responsibilities of the Commission 1. The Commission shall establish and administer, no later than September 2010, the ‘EU tyre labelling website’ as a central source of explanatory information for each component of the label. Explanatory leaflets and posters with the same core content as the website shall be distributed to points of sale for tyres and vehicles. The leaflets and posters shall be provided in appropriate languages at the point of sale. The website, leaflets and posters shall include: (i) an explanation of the pictograms printed on the label; (ii) a fuel savings calculator which demonstrates potential savings of fuel, money and CO2 by fitting low rolling resistance tyres for C1, C2 and C3 tyre classes; (iii) a statement highlighting the fact that actual fuel savings and road safety heavily depend on drivers' behaviour, in particular the following: – eco-driving, which can significantly reduce fuel consumption; – tyre pressure, that should be regularly checked for higher wet grip and fuel efficiency performance characteristics; – stopping distances, that should always be strictly respected. 2. In order to communicate to the consumer the consequences of tyre choice for future fuel bills, the Commission shall establish for each class of tyres (C1, C2, C3) a formula that enables calculation of the extra fuel consumption or fuel savings during the lifetime of a full set of these tyres compared with a C-class tyre of the same category. These formulae shall use the following inputs: – estimate of the EU average lifetime, in km, of the tyre class; – estimate of the EU average real-life fuel consumption per km driven by a vehicle fitted with the tyre class concerned; – estimate of the percentage of fuel savings achieved per kg/tonne reduced rolling resistance for the vehicle fitted with the tyre class concerned The formulae and results in terms of fuel consumption, monetary costs and CO2 emissions shall be made available to the general public through the tyre labelling website and may be reproduced on the websites of tyre manufacturers, distributors and retailers. 3. The Commission shall provide guidelines for manufacturers, suppliers and distributors on how the relevant information from the label is to be presented in technical and promotional literature, including, if appropriate, recommendations for graphic design.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – point 4 a (new)

(4a) tyre manufacturers shall present measured values from the type approval test with regard to the rolling resistance coefficient (expressed in kg/t), wet grip index (expressed as a performance index, G, compared to the standard reference tyre) and noise emissions (expressed in dB(A)) in a publicly available database.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – point 4 b (new)

(4b) tyre manufacturers shall present measured values from the type approval test moulded into or onto each sidewall for each model with regard to rolling resistance coefficient (expressed in kg/t), wet grip index (expressed as a performance index, G, compared to the standard reference tyre) and noise emissions (expressed in dB(A)).

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – point 1

(1) distributors shall ensure that tyres, at the point of sale, bear the sticker provided by suppliers in accordance with Article 4~~(1)~~, point 1 or a more detailed explanatory version of the label as set out in Annex II, part 2a in immediate proximity in a clearly visible position;

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – point 3

(3) for C1, C2 and C23 tyres, distributors shall provide the ~~fuel efficiency class and external rolling noise measured value~~explanatory version of the label as set out in Annex II, part 2a or part 2b on or with the bills delivered to end-users when they purchase tyres. For C1 tyres, the wet grip class shall also be provided.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Member States shall ensure that the competent authorities establish a system of routine and non-routine inspections of points of sale for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the requirements of this Directive.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex II – point 2 a (new)

2a. Format of expanded explanatory label The explanatory version of the label referred to in Article 5 shall be in accordance with the illustration below, and the text translated into the relevant language of the point of sale. This version of the label is to be provided on or with the bill to the customer, unless this causes an undue burden to the retailer, in which case information shall be provided in accordance with Annex II, point 2b.

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0221(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex II – point 2 b (new)

2b. Format of information on the receipt In the case where the costs of printing the explanatory label as outlined in Annex II, point 2a, represent an undue burden to the retailer, the label information shall be provided in accordance with the illustration below:

2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) Forests are an economic resource, the cultivation of which produces prosperity and employment. The cultivation of forests also has positive effects on climate since forest products can replace more energy-consuming products.

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)

(1b) It is of great importance, particularly from a climate point of view, that subcontractors operating on the internal market only market legally harvested timber since such products ensure that the important function of forests as carbon dioxide sinks is not disrupted. In addition, the use of legally harvested timber as building material, in wooden houses, for example, helps to lock in carbon dioxide continuously.

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 c (new)

(1c) Forests and the forest industry account for a very large part of social and economic development in the developing countries and constitute the primary source of income in such countries for many people. It is therefore important not to curb this development and source of income but to focus on how to promote a more sustainable development of forestry in these regions.

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)

(15a) In implementing this Regulation, the Commission and the Member States should take special account of the particular vulnerability and limited resources of small and medium-sized enterprises. It is extremely important that such enterprises are not burdened by complicated rules which impede their development. The Commission should, therefore, as far as possible and on the basis of the mechanisms and principles set out in the forthcoming Small Business Act, devise simplified systems in respect of small and medium-sized enterprises' obligations under this Regulation, without jeopardising its object and purpose, and offer those enterprises valid alternatives to operate in line with Community legislation

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)

(23a) Development in sustainable forestry is an ongoing process and this Regulation should, therefore, be evaluated, updated and amended on a regular basis in line with the results of new research. The Commission should therefore regularly analyse the latest available research and development and present the conclusions of its analysis and proposed amendments in a report to the European Parliament.

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 b (new)

(23b) In order to ensure a smoothly operating internal market in forest products, the Commission should analyse the impact of this Regulation on an ongoing basis. Particular account should be taken of the implications of the Regulation for small and medium-sized enterprises operating on the internal Community market. The Commission should, therefore, accordingly and on a regular basis, carry out a study and impact analysis of the effects of the Regulation on the internal market, with particular reference to small and medium- sized enterprises. The Commission should subsequently present a report of its analysis, its conclusions and proposals for measures to the European Parliament.

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall adopt measures for the implementation of this Article. The Commission shall, in particular, establish criteria for assessing whether there is a risk of illegally harvested timber and timber products being placed on the market. In doing so, the Commission shall take particular account of the special position and capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises and, as far as possible, offer those enterprises adapted and simplified alternatives to reporting and control systems so that those systems do not become too burdensome.

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new)

Article 14a Review Three years after the entry into force of this Regulation, and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall carry out a review of the operation of this Regulation in regard to its object and purpose and report its conclusions and, on the basis thereof, its proposals for amendments to the European Parliament. The review shall focus on the following: A detailed and thorough analysis of research and development in the field of sustainable forestry; the impact of this Regulation on the common market, with particular reference to the competitive situation and the ability of new players to establish themselves on the market; the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises on the market and how this Regulation has affected their activities.

2009/01/29
Committee: ENVI

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 37

(37) Moreover, the persistence of high wholesale charges for data roaming services is primarily attributable to high wholesale prices charged by operators of non-preferred networks. Such charges are caused by traffic steering limitations which leave operators with no incentive to reduce their standard wholesale prices unilaterally since the traffic will be received irrespective of the price charged. This results in an extreme variation in wholesale costs. In some cases the wholesale data roaming prices applicable to non-preferred networks are thirty times higher than those applied to the preferred network. These excessively high wholesale charges for data roaming services lead to appreciable distortions of competitive conditions between mobile operators within the Community which undermine the smooth functioning of the internal market. They also constrain the ability of home providers to predict their wholesale costs and therefore to provide their customers with transparent and competitive retail pricing packages. In view of the limitations on the ability of national regulatory authorities to tackle these problems effectively at national level, a wholesale price limit on data roaming services should apply. The wholesale price limit should be set at a safeguard level well above the lowest wholesale prices currently available in the market, to enhance competitive conditions ~~and~~, enable a competitive trend to develop on the market, including facilitating the establishment of new operators, at the same time as permitting the better functioning of the internal market for the benefit of consumers.

2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 40

(40) This common approach should nevertheless be maintained for a limited time period but may, where necessary, in the light of a ~~review to be carried out by the Commission, be further extended or amended. The Commission should review the effectiveness of Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 as amended by this Regulation and~~Commission review, be further extended or amended. The approach should be regarded, in this context, as a temporary intervention in what is, at present, a non-functioning market, and should consequently be abandoned if the market shows signs of change or, alternatively, should be replaced by a less interventionist approach if there appears to be a satisfactory alternative. The approach may not, under any circumstances, result in the 'cementing' of pricing, the operators or operators' behaviour on the market. The long-term aim must be to return to a functioning and competition- oriented, market-based pricing of mobile communications in the Community. The Commission should review the effectiveness of Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 as amended by this Regulation in the light of its objectives of eliminating unreasonable charges for roaming services within the Community, achieving a high level of consumer protection, promoting competition between mobile operators, including facilitating the establishment of new operators on the market, and creating incentives for innovation and consumer choice. The Commission should also take account of the contribution which it makes to the implementation of the regulatory framework and the smooth functioning of the internal market~~, while~~. The Commission should also keep~~ing~~ in mind ~~its impact on the smaller mobile communications providers in~~this Regulation's impact on the competitive position of mobile communications providers of various sizes, in particular small, independent and newly established operators, and of those from different parts of the Community and their position in the Community-wide roaming market.

2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 40 a (new)

(40a) The Commission should investigate whether, with reference to the competitive structure of the mobile market, there is compliance with Community competition law, in particular Article 81 and Article 82 of the EC Treaty. The Commission should report its conclusions and proposals for measures to the European Parliament.

2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)

(9a) As small businesses often have more difficulty assimilating new regulations and standards, the information offices to be set up under the forthcoming Small Business Act should also be assigned the task of providing information about the Ecolabel scheme.

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 b (new)

(9b) As different ecolabelling schemes always entail additional work, particularly for small businesses, the Commission should be instructed actively to promote the approximation of different labelling schemes or, preferably, their merger into a single scheme,

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)

Article 10a Small and medium-sized enterprises In order to protect small and medium- sized enterprises, the Commission shall 1. ensure that the information offices to be set up under the forthcoming Small Business Act are also assigned the task of providing information about the ecolabelling scheme; 2. actively promote the approximation and, preferably, the merger of different labelling schemes.

2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE

2008/0151(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. When implementing the Directive, Member States shall actively take into account the rules that may be laid down in the Small Business Act, which should make life easier for small and medium- sized enterprises as regards both sharing information and applying the standards established.

2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE

2008/0151(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. When establishing standards in accordance with the Directive, Member States shall actively take into account the fact that small and medium-sized enterprises sometimes have particular difficulties in applying new standards.

2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE

2008/0147(COD)