Activities of Britta THOMSEN related to 2010/2107(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Energy Efficiency Action Plan (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on Revision of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan PDF (299 KB) DOC (194 KB)
Amendments (31)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas energy poverty is a major problem that affects an increasing number of European households and involves a combination of low household income, poor heating and insulation standards and unaffordable energy prices; whereas energy poor are likely to live in older buildings, which are poorly insulated and use older higher energy- consuming appliances; underlines that although the most sustainable, economical and long term solution to energy poverty is investment in housing to improve heating and energy efficiency of energy poor households, intervention across range of policies such as social welfare and energy prices is necessary,
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the payback period for investments in energy efficiency is short and investments may create a million new 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,
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas mandatory targets have been shown in the case of other priority areas such as renewable energy and air quality to provide the drive, ownership and focus at EU and national level that are needed to ensure sufficient ambition in specific policies and dedication to their implementation,
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas progress on energy saving is hampered by a lack of accountability for and commitment to delivering the 20% target,
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas transport is responsible for almost 30 percent of the total European greenhouse gas emissions, a move from conventional fossil fuels cars to green technology vehicles powered by renewable energy, would contribute to substantial CO2 reduction, and create an optional energy storage, enabling the power grids to cope with the fluctuating production of renewable energy sources,
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas the Commission should assess the need to include new product categories, such as automatic controls and air-conditioning in residential and non-residential buildings, to the Eco- design Directive and Energy Labelling Directive,
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to present an evaluation 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 propose further EUby the end of the year an EEAP accompanied by a proper impact assessment, including measures 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; stresses that the method should be based on absolute reductions in energy consumption to ensure transparency;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for the EU to adopt a binding target on energy efficiency by at least 20% by 2020, and thereby advance the transition into a sustainable and green economy;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to present an ambitious Energy Efficiency Action Plan which takes stock of the progress achieved withof all measures contained in the 2006 Action Plan, reinforces implementation of adopted 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 and focusing on the full energy supply chain;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that although 3rd energy package requires the Member States to define vulnerable consumers, adopt national action plans and non- disconnection of vulnerable customers in "critical times", the package stopped short of requiring action at the European level such as common definition, data- collection, research and coordinated initiatives; calls on the Commission to address the energy poverty through monitoring enforcement of existing legislation, proposing new instruments and if necessary, legislation;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Underlines that achieving a sustainable economy by 2050 requires a comprehensive strategy for heating and cooling (industrial heat, domestic heating, cooling) that build on synergies between sectors and which can only be achieved provided a hierarchy of 3 REs is set to: reduce final demand of energy with high primary energy content, recycle energy that cannot be used in one sector (i.e. waste heat from electricity or industrial processes) in other sectors (i.e. domestic heating) and replace remaining demand of fossil fuels with renewable energy;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that a stronger focus is needed on system innovations such as smart grids, smart metering and energy storage which can facilitate energy efficiency by means of reduced congestion, fewer grid disconnections, easier integration of renewable technologies, reduced reserve generation requirements and greater and more flexible storage capacities;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for a revision of the CHP Directive to promote CHP, Micro-CHP and district heating/cooling bythrough 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 CHP, Micro-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 Sstructural Fundfunds or by encouraging Member States to introduce financial incentives;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
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;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses the importance of reducing high fuel costs to poorer households by supporting deep refurbishment to drive down energy consumption and expenses;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Believes it is essential that the homes of energy poor households are improved to the highest possible energy efficiency standards and without raising the daily costs for the energy poor; Stresses that this will often require substantial investment in homes but will on the same time generate a lot of non energy benefits, e.g. by reduced mortality, improved general wellbeing, lower levels of indebtness and reducing healthcare costs by reducing indoor pollution and thermal stress;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that the European Parliament and the Commissionbuildings of the European institutions and Agencies should set an example by refurbishing their buildings to nearly zero level by 2020;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes that while the Energy Services Company (ESCO) market has great potential as a win-win delivery mechanism for energy savings in buildings and residential sector, additional initial support, guidance and appropriate financial incentives are needed to kickstart this market;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Asks the Commission and the Member States to promote the wider use ofmandate energy audits in companies and industrial buildings and to devise mechanisms for assisting SMEs, in particular, in this respect;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Asks the Commission to propose minimum energystallation 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;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Notes that public authorities spend approximately 2 trillion Euros annually, equivalent to some 17% of the EU’s GDP, on goods and services; therefore energy savings and efficiency must be introduced as clear criteria in public procurement technical specifications;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 24 – indent 3 a (new)
· to promote the necessary support mechanisms and infrastructure investments to enable the widespread adaptation of new technologies which yield energy efficiency,
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the Commission in partnership with European energy regulation authorities to speed up the introduction of steep variations in electricity pricing (differential pricing) while at the same time equipping businesses and households with the smart meters and other technology necessary to be able respond to price incentives and reduce energy use;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to propose an energy efficiency standard for mobile air conditioning as part of the Integrated Approach to reducing CO2 emissions from light duty vehicles, and to promote the development of innovative devices to improve energy efficiency (e.g. spoilers for trucks) and to consider making them mandatory, if proved to be cost-effective;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Notes that while innovative technologies for energy efficiency are already available on the market, training of the workforce at the all levels need to be reinforced, particularly to ensure good quality energy audits; therefore, calls for a full exploitation and increase of the structural and cohesion funds for training purposes;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Stresses the need to improve and increase the use of existing EU funds such as the ERDF and EAFRD for energy efficiency measures; asks the Commission to identify the obstacles to the use of a larger share of the resources of the Structural and Cohesion Funds, as well as funds for rural development, for this purpose and to come forward with adequate actions to address these obstacles (e.g. additional EU measures to support technical assistance and awareness- raising);
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Is convinced that introducing two components of taxation: one on carbon dioxide, and more stringent and comprehensive taxation on energy, particularly on electricity generation and transport fuels, would raise significant revenue to national budgets, which could be invested back into energy savings, renewable energies and for social compensatory measures; calls on the Commission in this regard to revise the Energy Taxation Directive in order to establish a new tax regime;
Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that mandating energy companies to fulfil energy saving obligations could provide additional sources of financing for energy efficiency measures, such as wire charges applied to TSOs or DSOs, funds provided by suppliers as a means of fulfilling their obligation, or fines paid for non- fulfilment of requirements;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Calls on the Commission to consider proposing effective measures, such as well devised white certificate schemes and energy labelling of power stations to push energy companies to invest in energy efficiency;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Calls on the Commission to promote EU measures to raise the level of public understanding as well as the level of competencies of all professional actors in energy efficiency implementation at all stages (assessment of existing energy performance, design and implementation of energy efficiency solutions, energy efficient operation and maintenance);
Amendment 418 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Endorses the call by the G20 group of countries in its Toronto Summit Declaration of 27 June 2010 for fossil fuel subsidies to be phased out over the medium term, and points out that doing so would liberate billions of Euros which could be redirected to supporting energy efficiency measures, thus contributing far better to the EU's strategic energy objectives of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply;