30 Amendments of Thomas ULMER related to 2008/2239(INI)
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the present economic crisis is further hampering investment in energy infrastructure,
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on Member States, in the light of the growing risks which the EU is running in terms of energy security, to speak with a single voice; notes that their current practices are anything but geared to this aspiration; considers it imperative, in the interests both of solidarity and of the effectiveness of negotiations with a view to determining the international regulatory framework, for Member States to draw up a European energy policy in accordance with their competences: international relations, energy efficiency, combating climate change, regulationmonitoring of the internal market, negotiation of international treaties, forward studies and dialogue with producers, and energy research;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes a very significant delay in the building of the priority and European- interest transport and energy networks as far as the production sector is concerned; stresses that this low level of investment is acting as a brake on the proper functioning of the internal market and is responsible for the fact that, in all energy sectors, capacity is stretched or even inadequate; notes moreover that industry is only to a limited extent responsible for this and expresses its concern about the general resistance of many members of the public to new infrastructure projects and production projects; calls on national regulatory authorities to do whatever they can within their fields of decision-making to accelerate investment;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the idea of increasing European financing with the aim of encouraging investment in networks; advocates the establishment of a European fund to guarantee non- commercial risks of certain energy production and transmission projects of European interest;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports the development of gas and electricity interconnections through Central and South-eastern Europe along a north- south axis, recalling that the networks in Northern Europe are inadequate and that these regions are isolated; calls therefore, by way of example, for gas to be supplied to Poland from Eastern Germany;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses its support for the Nabucco projects to diversify sources of supply; is concerned, however, about the progress of themany projects and the risks to sources of supply for the gas pipeline; stresses the importance of complying with existing requirements under the existing Directive 2004/67/EC before new requirements are defined or existing requirements extended; recalls that additional measures often also give rise to additional costs which cannot be borne exclusively by industry;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. 100% energy security is impossible; despite technically complex and tried and tested technical systems, the complex process chain of energy supply can be stopped or interrupted; therefore, only a part of the risk can ever be controlled and monitored by energy policy;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Notes that the stable operation of electricity networks requires suitable and balanced sharing of energy production within that network; calls on the Commission to take into account that production can occur not only in coastal regions, but also close to consumers who are situated far from the coast; calls on the Commission to come forward with a report analysing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of locations near to and far from the coast for the purposes of producing electricity;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Endorses investment in electricity and gas transport networks in the European Union, and calls on the regulatory authorities to ensure an appropriate legal framework;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Recalls that cross-border links already exist between various countries; observes also that regional initiatives (such as the Pentalateral Forum) have devised usable practical solutions which accelerate the completion of the internal market; encourages those responsible for these initiatives to continue their successful work;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 e (new)
Paragraph 10 e (new)
10e. Welcomes initiatives by industry which contribute to the completion of the internal market in energy by means of cross-border projects;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission and Member States to draw up strategic guidelines intended for lasting application, while leaving it to private industrial undertakings to implement them, striking a balance between market mechanisms and regulation; stresses the importance of finalising the negotiations on the legislative package on the internal energy market and calls on the Commission and Member States to set up an independent agency for cooperation between energy regulators, with strong powers, including powers relating to security of supply;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to focus on the implementation of existing legislation for the internal market, and emphasises once again the need for investment in the internal energy market and the related need for stable regulatory framework conditions;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that the completion of the market will be a success if it makes it possible ultimately to avoid volatility of energy pricessufficient liquidity is available on the market and that Directive 2003/87/EC, which is currently being revised, provides, in a comprehensible and predictable manner, an assessment of carbon dioxide costs;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the EU to cooperate with the countries of North Africa in view of their significant energy resource potential and substantial opportunities for development of Africa; the same applies to the Middle East;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Advocates an approach geared to conciliation in the dialogue with Russia, which supplies 42% of the EU's gas, as well as 100% of the gas imported by Poland, Finland and the Baltic States; notes that relations between the EU and Russia are based on interdependence and that, in the continuation of the negotiations, the EU should refrain from demanding ratification of the Energy Charter, while reminding the Russian authorities of their endorsement of the principles of the Charter; hopes, by way of example, that the Nabucco gas pipeline project will be carried out in cooperation with Russia in order to avoid competition between two gas pipelines and to be able ultimately to transmit gas from Russia, Iran or the Caspian Sea;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to strengthen relations with producer countries and to help European industries to develop the necessary cooperation; is concerned about the Commission’s selective choices; fears that explicitly naming individual projects may lead to other projects being put at a disadvantage and therefore to a disruption of the market;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission to clarify individual initiatives such as the Caspian development mechanism and asks on what criteria the selection of industry participation in such projects is based and what procedures are followed; is concerned that the efforts to create a working internal energy market will be thwarted by market distortions in the upstream sector;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Supports all infrastructure projects and, at the same time, greater diversification of resources for more security of supply and more competition;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that, because of the high cost of strategic gas stocks, it is preferable to promote transparency of commercial stocks and diversification of connections; proposes, however, that Member States introduce emergency measures, such as strategic stocks of the order of 10% and/or contracts which can be interrupted in the event of a crisis;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Expresses its concern about possible security sharing agreements; believes that the present market mechanisms are functioning and fears that any requirement for operators in the LNG sector which conclude a security sharing agreement could increase the costs of such projects and reduce the likelihood of investment;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Considers that improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 is the priority with a view to contributing to sustainable development and competitiveness objectives and is also a very effective and inexpensive way of improving energy security; calls on the Commission and Member States to step up awareness campaigns and make practical information available concerning the solutions to be adopted;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes the Commission's intention of observing carefully the progress of CHP, and calls on it to submit further support measures as part of the review of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan in 2009; reminds the Commission that savings on primary energy, cost efficiency and security of supply are the prime aims of the CHP process, irrespective of what technology is used; considers that it must be left to the market to develop and select the most effective technologies;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Considers that renewable energies, such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass and marine resources, are the most important potential source of energy available to the EU, which can help to stabilise energy prices, and welcomes the initiative to submit a communication on eliminating obstacles to renewable energies; stresses in this connection that new initiatives must not result in any postponement of existing projects;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recalls that coalhard coal and lignite remains an element in the EU's supplies and an alternative to oil and gas; recalls the large volume of indigenous reserves and the wide diversification of suppliers in politically stable countries; stresses, however, that the major disadvantage of coal lies in its very high rate of carbon dioxide emissions;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Welcomes the Commission's generally supportive stance regarding nuclear energy; points out, however, that it does not adequately address the issue of final disposal of radioactive waste, despite its immense importance for public perception; calls on the Member States concerned to step up their efforts with regard to resolving the problem of final disposal of all types of radioactive waste, but especially highly radioactive waste;