44 Amendments of Markus PIEPER related to 2011/2034(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that the upgrading and renewal of energy infrastructure are essential factors for achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy; notes that regional and local authorities play the most important role in the authorisation processes as well as in promoting EIPs to the general populationin a number of countries the level of interconnection is below the threshold of 10%; underlines that regional and local authorities in cooperation with national ‘one-stop shops’ play an important role in the authorisation processes as well as in promoting EIPs to the general population; calls in this regard for a consultation and assessment system in order to identify and spread best practices and knowledge of public acceptance of infrastructure;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas our major energy challenges are confronting climate change, strengthening energy autonomsecurity while reducing fossil fuel importdiversifying energy suppliers and sources, achieving a competitive internal energy market and ensuring universal access to sustainable, affordable and secure energy,
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that cooperation between regions in the Member States and in the EU ion a national and European level adds to putting an end to energy islands, contributes to the completion of the internal energy market and constitutes a necessary component for successful implementation of EIPs and takes the view that macro-regional strategies can serve as cooperation platforms for cross-border projects;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Lisbon Treaty provides a specific legal basis for developing an EU energy policy which promotes the interconnection of energy networks across national and regional borders which is necessary to achieve the other EU energy policy objectives (functioning of the energy market, energy efficiency and renewable energy, security of supply),
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Takes the view that the Structural Funds offer scope for supporting special investments in energy infrastructure; considers, however, that such investments must be confined to regions in which, for political and geographical reasons, the market has much more difficulty in providing solutions to energy supply problems; calls, further, for support from the Structural Funds always to be made contingent on the adoption, as a matter of principle, of a commercial approach and on compliance with the principle of shared responsibility for funding;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the availability of interconnection capacity or interconnection capacity itself between Member States remains generally insufficient in some cases, and whereas certain regions remain isolated,
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that incentives in national regulatory systems are still insufficient, especially for higher-risk and innovative projects such as smart grids; stresses that national regulatory frameworks need to be adjusted and requests the Commission in this regard to inquire to what extent national regulatory incentives are satisfactory and adequate;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to ensure that financing of infrastructure investments is market-based, provided, however, that without distorting competition and the level playing field in the market, public interest – especially at local and regional level – is also safeguarded through a limited amount of public finance which has to result in an innovative mix of financial instruments that levers private investments; .
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas energy infrastructures planned today must be consistent with market needs and long-term EU climate and energy objectives,
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas energy efficiency offers a powerful and cost-effective tool for achieving a sustainable energy future and can partially reduce the need for investment in energy infrastructure and to relocate plants in response to rising costs,
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas smart grids and meters could provide an important opportunity to establish an efficient relationship between energy production, energy transmission, energy distribution and users,
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas market-based tools must remain the basis for financing energy infrastructure, and whereas a limited amount of public finance may be required to fund certain projects which are not strictly commercially viablecriteria must provide the basis for the introduction of instruments to finance energy infrastructure, and whereas, on the basis of detailed assessments f individual cases, a limited amount of public finance may be required to fund the planning or implementation of certain projects, in keeping with predetermined, transparent criteria, provided that those projects are in the interests of the EU and serve the objectives of completing the internal market and/or increasing security of supply, whilst preventing distortions of competition,
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the crucial importance of timely, correct and full implementation of existing legislation, including the regulatory work called for by the third internal energy market package, and stresses in this regard that the internal energy market should be completed by 2014 so as to allow gas and electricity to flow freely;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the crucial importance of timely and full implementation of existing legislation, including the regulatory work called for by the third internal energy market package, in order to guarantee comparable terms of competition;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the reference scenario used for assessing the energy infrastructure for 2020 needs to be consistent with the overall energy policy objectives and the EU'’s 2050 roadmap, and with other EU policies (such as transport, buildings and the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS)), including energy efficiency policies (notably the implementation of the forthcoming energy efficiency action plan (EEP)) as well as the potential impact of technological advances and the deployment of ‘smart cities’ and 'smart regions' initiatives;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the need to identify, according to a hierarchy of importance and cost-effectiveness, where infrastructure could be minimised through energy efficiency policies, where existing infrastructure can be upgraded or modernised and where new infrastructure is needed and can be built alongside existing infrastructure;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the development of electricity infrastructure between the EU and third countries can create a risk of carbon leakage importing network increase that risk where already present; calls on the Commission to bring forward, wherever necessary, measures to address this issue as a ‘carbon inclusion mechanism’ or require conformity wistability; calls, therefore, on the network operators, the regulatory authorities, including ACER, and the Commission to create, in cooperation with the network operators and authorities in third countries, conditions conducive to the establishment of the degree of network stability needed to secure the involvement of neighbouring countries in the EU internal energy market, a precondition for achieving the EU Directive 2009/28/EC; ’s objectives in the area of the development of renewable energies;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to submit by the end of 2011 proposed solutions to the trade-offs described by the European coordinator Georg Wilhelm Adamowitsch in his third annual report of 15 November 2010, for example that between the urgent need for new infrastructure and rigid environmental protection rules;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that, although the Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) identifies relevant electricity and gas infrastructure projects, it which should also set the priorities to be developed in order to achieve EU energy and climate goalprovide the basis for selecting EIP projects;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission, with a view to ensuring better governance of future EU electricity and gas infrastructure planning, to present a concrete proposal to improve transparency and public participation in determining EU priorities within a broader stakeholder participation process involving the power sector, independent experts; consumer organisations and NGOs;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that the TYNDP should form the basis of a rolling programme for developing European gas transport and electricity transmission infrastructure within a long- term European planning perspective and with monitoring by the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the Commission, with due account being taken of the relevant provisions of the Third Internal Market Package;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Endorses the importance of efficient gas infrastructures in enhancing diversification and security of supply and reducing energy dependence; highlights the need for additional flexibility requirements in gas infrastructures, as set out in Regulation 994/2010, 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;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement that natural gas will take on an important role as a backup fuel; stresses, however, that other forms of energy and energy storage facilities will also have to take on this role if security of supply is to be ensured; underlines that a broad energy mix will continue to be the basis for secure, cost-effective energy supply;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that the development of infrastructure for unconventional gas sources has not yetAsks the Commission to conduct a thorough evaluation of the potential 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 issueefits and the risks of using unconventional natural gas sources in the EU, taking into account the various methods of extraction and ongoing technical developments;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
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 installations, compressed air and other technologies);
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Urges the Commission – in cooperation with the relevant market operators – to critically assess and review, wherever necessary, the figures for investment needs given in the communication on energy infrastructure priorities, and asks it to report to the Council and to the Parliament on the investments likely to be needed;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that energy infrastructures should become more end-user-oriented, with a stronger focus on the interaction between distribution system capacities and consumption; points to the benefits of a new gas and electricity system incorporating modern technologies and services such as smart meters, smart grids and interoperable ICT-operated load- and demand-side energy management services;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
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; 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;
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Urges the Members States, in liaison with European standardisation bodies and industry, to speed up work on technical standards for electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and smart grids and meters, with a view to its completion by the end of 2012;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 2
Paragraph 24 – indent 2
Amendment 408 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 3
Paragraph 24 – indent 3
– they must be in line with climate and environmental objectivobjectives in the areas of security of supply and diversification of countries of origin and supply routes,
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – indent 1
Paragraph 25 – indent 1
– contribution to putting an end to energy islands and the completion of the internal energy market,
Amendment 482 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the establishment of a national contact authority for each European interest project (‘one-stop shop’) as a single administrative interface between developers and the different authorities involved in the authorisation procedure; takes the view that, with regard to cross- border projects, further coordination between national ‘one-stop shops’ and an increased role for the Commission in such coordination should be ensured;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the introduction of a time limit of five years within which the relevant executive authorities must reach a final decision; calls on the Commission to further asses this initiative, taking account of the diverse range of project specificities and the territorial characteristics of projects, and to evaluate the suitability of using arbitration procedures as a final decision-making tool;
Amendment 500 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 513 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
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 keeping the existing infrastructure operational and of deploying new infrastructure to be optimised;
Amendment 516 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Takes the view that the funding of basic infrastructure and the promotion of conventional energies must be seen as compatible with the EU 2020 Strategy, since only if they have competitive transport, energy and communications networks will convergence regions be able to play a part in achieving the EU 2020 objectives; considers that the weaker and neediest regions, in particular, must be offered some leeway in interpreting the EU2020 objectives;
Amendment 523 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Stresses that the bulk of the cost of infrastructure investments needs to be financed by the market and based on the ‘user pays’ principle; requests the Commission to assess to what extent the existing regulatory incentives are sufficient to send the necessary signals; takes the view that where key projects are not attractive to the market but their development is necessary in order to achieve the stated objectives, public funding should be used to lever private investment by setting up an innovative mix, subject to a clear ceiling, of financial instruments;
Amendment 529 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Sees options for the structural funds to support special energy infrastructure investments; considers, however, that these must be confined to regions where market-based energy supply solutions are severely restricted for political and geographical reasons; calls for structural fund support to be tied, however, to the condition that a commercial application follow as a matter of principle and that the principle of shared responsibility for funding be respected;
Amendment 542 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Emphasises that a stable, predictable and appropriate regulatory framework that also provides incentives for the construction of new infrastructure is crucial in order to promote investment;
Amendment 545 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Notes that a number of Member States have not yet fully implemented the provisions of the second internal market package and is concerned that there will be substantial delays in implementing the third internal market package; calls on the Commission, therefore, to make compliance with the core provisions of internal market legislation relating to electricity and gas a condition for the granting of public funding, so as to step up the pressure on the Member States;
Amendment 554 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses that the fullest possible use should be made of market-based tools, including project bonds, loan guarantees, non-commercial risk-sharing facilities, incentives for funding public-private partnerships, partnerships with the EIB and the use of ETS revenue, in accordance with EU energy and climate objectives;
Amendment 565 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recalls 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; welcomes, therefore, the REMIT proposal from the European Commission;