Activities of Margrete AUKEN related to 2020/0100(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism
Amendments (28)
Amendment 2 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal on 11 December 20199 , drawing its roadmap towards a new growthsustainable development policy for Europe and setting ambitious objectives to counter climate change and for environmental protection. In line with the objective to achieveview of achieving the Union’s climate and energy targets for 2030 and to reach climate neutrality in the Union by 205040 at the latest in an effective and fair manner, the European Green Deal announced a Just Transition Mechanism to provide means for facing the climate challenge while leaving no one behind. The most vulnerable regions and people are the most exposed to the harmful effects of climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, managing the transition requires significant structural changes. _________________ 9 COM(2019) 640 final.
Amendment 10 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal Investment Plan10 on 14 January 2020, establishing the Just Transition Mechanism which focuses on the regions, people and sectors that are most affected by the transition given their dependence on fossil fuels, including coal, peat and oil shale or greenhouse gas-intensive industrial processes but have less capacity to finance the necessary investments. The Just Transition Mechanism consists of three pillars: a Just Transition Fund implemented under shared management, a dedicated just transition scheme under InvestEU, and a public sector loan facility to mobilise additional investments to the regions concerned. _________________ 10 COM(2020) 21 final.
Amendment 11 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The proposal for establishing the Just Transition Fund was adopted by the Commission on 14 January 202011 . For the better programming and implementation of the Fund, territorial just transition plans are to be adopted, setting out the key steps and timeline of the transition process and identifying the territories most negatively affected by the transition towards a climate neutral economy and with less capacity to deal with the transition challenges, including legally binding dates for the phase out of all fossil fuels in a timeframe consistent with the objective of limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and identifying the territories most negatively affected by the transition towards a climate neutral economy and with less capacity to deal with the transition challenges. The partnership principle applies for the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the territorial just transition plans as referred to in Article [7] of [Regulation (EU) 2020/xxx of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund ("JTF Regulation"]. _________________ 11 COM(2020) 22 final
Amendment 16 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challenges described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism. Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a and ensure synergies with those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism. Investments that are inconsistent with the achievement of the Union’s climate and environmental objectives should not be eligible for support under this Facility. _________________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability‐related disclosures in the financial services sector (OJ L 317, 9.12.2019, p. 1.
Amendment 22 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a climate neutral economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, greethe Union’s 2030 targets for climate and energy and a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2040 at the latest, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover clean technologies and infrastructure for renewable, highly efficient and renewables-based district heating networks, clean technologies and infrastructure for the transition towards zero-emission mobility, smart waste management, clean energy and energy efficiency measures including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a non- toxic circular economy, land restoration and decontamination in line with the polluter pays principle, as well as up- and re-skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand ecological disasters. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomytransition towards a climate-neutral, environmentally sustainable, energy- and resourec-efficient and circular economy. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility and that can make a substantial contribution to the Union’s sustainability objectives, while respecting the "do not significant harm" principle referred to in Regulation (EU) 2020/852, the EU taxonomy established by that Regulation on environmentally sustainable economic activities may be usedshould be used. Investments should be screened to determine whether they have an environmental, climate or social impact and if necessary they should be subject to sustainability proofing in accordance with guidance to be developed by the Commission.
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) Horizontal principles as set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on the European Union ('TEU') and in Article 10 of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), including principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out in Article 5 of the TEU should be respected in the implementation of the Facility, taking into account the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Member States should also respect the obligations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensure accessibility in line with its Article 9 and in accordance with Union law harmonising accessibility requirements for products and services. The Facility should not support actions that contribute to any form of segregation or exclusion, or support infrastructure which is inaccessible to persons with a disability. Member States and the Commission should aim at eliminating inequalities and at promoting equality between men and women and integrating the gender perspective, as well as at combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5 b) The objectives of the Facility should be pursued in the framework of sustainable development and the Union's promotion of the aim of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment as set out in Article 11 and Article 191(1) of the TFEU, taking into account the polluter pays principle and the commitment of limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre- industrial levels as agreed under the Paris Agreement.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 c (new)
Recital 5 c (new)
(5 c) The Member States and the Commission should ensure that the implementation of the Facility contributes to the respect and the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU. Evaluations have shown the importance of taking the gender equality objectives into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of operational programmes, in a timely and consistent manner and therefore requires gender impact assessments, gender budgeting and monitoring of results from a gender perspective to be part of the programming cycle.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Facility should provide support in the form of grants provided by the Union combined with loans provided by a finance partner. The financial envelope of the grant component, implemented by the Commission in direct management should take the form of financing not linked to costs, in accordance with Article 125 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council (the ‘Financial Regulation’)12 . That form of financing should help incentivise project promoters to participate and contribute to the achievement of the Facility’s objectives in an efficient way relative to the size of the loan. The loan component should be provided by the European Investment Bank (‘the EIB’). The Facility may also be extended to other finance partners providing the loan component, where additional resources for the grant component become available or where it is required for the correct implementation. In that case, other finance partners should respect climate, environmental, social and transparency standards at least equivalent to those of the EIB. _________________ 12 Regulation (EU Euratom) 2018/1046.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to ensure that all Member States are granted the possibility to benefit from the grant component, a mechanism should be set up to establish earmarked national shares to be respected during a first stage, based on the distribution key proposed in the Just Transition Fund Regulation. The needs of less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of [Regulation (EU) 2020/XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument ("Common Provisions Regulation")] should be taken into account. However, in order to reconcile that objective with the need to optimise the economic impact of the Facility and its implementation, such national allocations should not be earmarked after 31 December 2024. Thereafter, the remaining resources available for the grant component should be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level, while ensuring predictability for investment and following a needs-based and regional convergence approach and promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Specific eligibility conditions and award criteria should be set out in the work programme and the call for proposals. Those eligibility conditions and award criteria should take into account the relevance of the project in the context of the development needs described in the territorial just transition plans, the overall objective of promoting regioneconomic, social and territorial convergencehesion and the significance of the grant component for the viability of the project and, where applicable, the technical screening criteria in EU taxonomy established by Regulation (EU) 2020/852. Union Support established by this Regulation should thus only be made available to Member States with at least one territorial just transition plan adopted. The work programme and calls for proposals will also take into account the territorial just transition plans submitted by Member States to ensure that coherence and consistency across the different pillars of the mechanism is ensured.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18 a) In order to improve transparency and accountability under this Facility, finance partners should publicly disclose all the relevant information on each project financed and the Commission should grant public access to its opinions issued on each project selected or financed by the EIB. The Commission should also report annually to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Facility in particular with regards to the results and impact of the Facility with respect to its objectives and performance indicators.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental and economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards the Union’s 2030 targets for climate and energy and a climate- neutral economy ofin the Union by 205040 at the latest as set out in [Regulation (EU) 2020/XXX establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999("European Climate Law")].
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
5. 'territorial just transition plan' means a plan established together with relevant local and regional authorities and stakeholders of the territory concerned in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation] and approved by the Commission;
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Facility is to address serious socio- economic and environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy, environmentally sustainable, energy- and resource- efficient and circular economy by 2040 at the latest, for the benefit of the Union territories identified in the territorial just transition plans prepared by the Member States in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation], in particular to contribute to the Union’s climate objectives as set out in [Regulation (EU) 2020/XXX establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999("European Climate Law")].
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
5. An amount up to 2% of the resources referred to in paragraph 1 may be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Facility such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit, information, communication, publicity and evaluation activities including corporate information and technology systems, as well as administrative expenditure and fees of the finance partners.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched as from 1 January 2025, Union support awarded to eligible projects shall be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level until exhaustion of remaining resources. The award of such grants shall place special attention on less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of [Regulation (EU) 2020/XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument ("Common Provisions Regulation)"] and take into account the need to ensure predictability of investment and the promotion of regional econvergenceomic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act setting out the respective shares for each Member State resulting from the application of the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [JTF Regulation] and the application of a redistributive factor taking into account the need of less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of [Regulation (EU) 2020/XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument ("Common Provisions Regulation")] in the form of percentages of the total available resources.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic or environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy and benefit, environmentally sustainable, energy- and resource- efficient and circular economy by 2040 at the latest, and contribute to the objectives and needs of the territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) the projects are consistent with the technical screening criteria established by Regulation (EU) 2019/2088;
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) the projects have been subject to a gender impact assessment.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a Excluded activities The following activities shall be excluded from the scope of Union support under this Facility: (a) the decommissioning, mantainance, adaptation or the construction of nuclear power stations as well as the as well as the management or storage of nuclear waste; (b) the manufacturing, processing, distribution and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products; (c) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of fossil fuels; (d) investment in airport and motorways infrastructures; (e) projects that are inconsistent with the achievement of the Union’s climate and environmental objectives or that are incompatible with the "do not significant harm" principle referred to in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 or any other investments which would hamper the development and deployment of low- carbon alternatives or which lead to lock- in effects.
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13 a (new)
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Commission shall report annually on the implementation of the Facility in accordance with Article 250 of the Financial Regulation. That report shall provide information on the results and impact of the Facility with respect to its objectives and performance indicators, in particular its contribution to addressing the transition needs and to the EU sustainability objectives, in particular its impact on climate, the environment, the social dimension and gender equality. That report shall also provide information on the contribution of the Facility towards the objective of spending at least 50 % of the MFF 2021-2027 on the Union’s environment and climate objectives. For these purposes, finance partners and beneficiaries shall provide on an annual basis all the necessary information and data.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. The projects financed under this Facility shall be screened to determine whether they have an environmental, climate, social and gender impact. If those projects have such an impact they shall be subject to a sustainability proofing mechanism, with a view to minimise detrimental impacts and maximise benefits on climate, environment and the social and on gender equality, in line with Union sustainability objectives, on the basis of the guidance to be developed by the Commission under the InvestEU Programme. For that purpose, entities requesting financing shall provide adequate information based on the guidance by the Commission. Projects below a certain size defined in the guidance shall be excluded from the proofing.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 a (new)
Article 18 a (new)
Article 18 a The Commission shall make publicly available upon delivery any opinions issued on the projects selected or financed under this Facility in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 19 of the Statute of the EIB.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 – introductory part
Annex II – point 6 – introductory part
6. Number of projects by sector and gender
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.4
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.4
6.4 Direct support to climate transition, decarbonisation (in particular support to (renewable energy, and energy efficiency) and other environmental objectives