BETA

250 Amendments of Nikolaos VAKALIS

Amendment 90 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; supports also the building of interconnections with islands, remote and isolated areas in the EU;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 150 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on Member States to cooperate to draw up a European strategic plan with a view to multiannual programming of the investment necessary to meet future electricity generation and natural gas needs on the basis of medium-term projections of energy requirements, as well as to gradually introduce district heating and cooling grids in all buildings in order to reduce fossil fuel use;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 169 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; to this end, supports the development of a Mediterranean Energy Ring which will enable Europe and North Africa to better exploit natural resources, such as solar and wind;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 181 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 192 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Urges the Commission to consider extending the Energy Treaty between the EU and South Eastern Europe to other third countries and creating new regional energy markets on the model of the South East Europe Energy Community with neighbouring countries, such as the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Community, in order to ensure security of supply;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 204 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on Member States to use the euro as an instrument to structure international financial relations in order to reduce fluctuations arising from the invoicing of purchases of oil and gas; calls on the EU to examine the issue of foreign investment in the European energy sector by applying the reciprocity clause;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 206 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on Member States to identify the best practices at international level and to step up the technological cooperation with these countries so as to achieve lesson drawing; in particular, calls on Member States to step up their technological cooperation with Japan, whose economy is totally dependent on imported energy and which has developed one of the most efficient energy systems in the world;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 209 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the Commission's intention of revising Directive 2006/67/EC and proposes the publication of weekly rather than monthly data as at present to render the market transparent and avoid a disproportionate reaction to the American situation;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 220 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 andso as to make practical information available concerning the solutions to be adopted, and also to promote energy education and training programmes in schools and universities throughout the EU;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 227 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses the importance of adopting mandatory public procurement measures at the Community and Member State levels in order to stimulate the demand for innovative products and services that will enhance energy efficiency;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 230 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote the use of financial incentives for Smart Grid technologies and for intelligent buildings, notably through the restoration of older buildings and the construction of new energy-efficient buildings such as Passive Houses and Zero Emission Houses;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 239 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Notes that information and communication technologies should be promoted as key technologies to drive energy savings in various sectors such as transportation, construction, energy and manufacturing; in this context, reminds its resolution on the challenge of energy efficiency through information and communication;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 241 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Stresses the importance of adopting the necessary mix of policy measures so as to improve the energy efficiency both of existing and new electric appliances;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 258 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to increase the priority assigned to researchR&D into electricity storage to enable better penetraand increase of infrastructure capacity to enable priority connection of renewable energies;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 280 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
32. Endorses the Commission's analysis that it is urgent for Member States which have opted for nuclear, or which do so in future, to take the necessary investment decisions and that the EU should continue to provide a regulatory framework for its use; calls on the Commission to promote, as an integral part of European Neighbourhood Policy, the adoption by neighbouring countries of the European acquis in nuclear safety every time a new nuclear plant is planned or an old plant is upgraded in these countries;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 303 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on the Commission and Member States to devise a European energy policy which will permit a massive conversion to low and zero carbon emission energy technologies to meet the growing needs for energy consumption although there is a risk of a major crisis in the energy field; stresses that, while energy efficiency and energy saving remain a priority, as does the continued development of renewable energies, it will not be possible to overcome the energy resource deficit by 2030;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 306 #

2008/2239(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Considers the global and European long-term energy and climate change challenges as a unique opportunity to enable new business models across the economy in order to boost green innovation and entrepreneurship;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 17 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Supports warmly the Commission's Communication of 25 June 2008, which aims to drive an ambitious policy agenda to promote SMEs’ growth through the ten10 guiding principles and to anchor the “Think Small First” approach in policy- making at all levels; urges national governments, regional and local authorities, business, socioeconomic and professional organisations, social partners and all other relevant stakeholders to support and gain effective ownership of these guiding principles;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 22 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the need to place particular emphasis on craft, family, micro- and individual enterprises at EU, national and regional level, since these are most vulnerable to heavy regulatory and fiscal environments; therefore, calls for specific impact assessments for these categories of SMEs, and urges the Commission and the Member States to take regulatory, administrative, fiscal and life-long learning measures specifically targeted for them;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 65 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Considers that the participation of SMEs in clusters must be promoted in order to boost innovation and increase the competitiveness of the European economy; calls therefore on the Commission to support the improvement of cluster management, notably through the exchange of best practices and training programmes, to design and disseminate tools to assess the performance of clusters, to promote inter- cluster cooperation, and to further simplify administrative procedures for the participation of clusters in EU programmes;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 66 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Is strongly convinced that patents (including the Community patent) play an increasingly important role in innovation and economic performance, since they enable innovators to capture the returns from innovative investments and provide the necessary security for investment, equity and loans; is therefore of the opinion that an agreement on a Community Patent ensuring low-cost, efficient and high-quality legal protection for innovative products and services, as well as on a harmonised European patent litigation system, should be reached without delay;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 72 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the need to promote innovative public procurement since it leads to added value for contracting authorities, citizens, and participating undertakings; in that respect, calls on the European Council to examine the perspective of establishing a quota, as regards public procurement in R&D and eco-innovation, in favour of R&D performing and innovative SMEs, clusters, and innovation and competitiveness poles;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 76 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Draws attention to the need for sufficient technical and skilled personnel; therefore, believes that more investment is needed in education and that the links between educational institutions and SMEs should be strengthened, so that entrepreneurship culture is promoted at all levels of national and regional education systems; encourages the further extension of individual mobility schemes such as „Erasmus for young entrepreneurs" and „Erasmus for apprentices"; urges the Member States, in collaboration with social partners and training providers, to set up lifelong learning programmes specifically tailored to SMEs’ needs that will be co-financed by the European Social Fund;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 81 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the launching of a single European network integrating the services currently provided by Euro Info Centres (EIC) and Innovation Relay Centres (IRC) in order to support SMEs in all their innovation and competitiveness efforts through a wide range of services;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 103 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that SMEs’ limited ability to access finance is a major impediment to their creation and growth; encourages initiatives by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to boost the funding available for guarantees and other financial instruments for SMEs and to increase the volume of loans available on a mid-term basis to lending institutions in order to meet SMEs’ borrowing needs; also applauds in this respect the recent initiative to set up a Micro Credit Initiative;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 106 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises the important role of the EIB in improving financing available to SMEs, particularly given the current financial turmoil and its repercussions on the credit market; invites the Commission to investigate further how current banking rules and other financial regulations could be improved to ease access to finance for SMEs; encourages banking associations and industry (in particular SME) organisations to collaborate, with the aid of the Commission, in order to arrange training courses for SMEs on alternative financing tools and, more generally, in order to attract alternative financing;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 113 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes the enormous potential of the EU Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) in correcting market failures in SME financing, in promoting eco-innovation and in supporting entrepreneurial culture;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 116 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that public procurement covers around 16% of EU GDP; calls on the Commission and Member States to strengthen SME access to and participation in public procurement through inter alia making more use of e-procurement, adapting the size of contracts to SMEs, alleviating their administrative and financial burden in tendering, and enhancing their access to information on public tenders;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 125 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Considers that advanced e-Business applications, based on the implementation of interoperable electronic signatures and authentication certificates, is a crucial driver of SME competitiveness and should be encouraged by the Commission and the Member States;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 129 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Points out that only 8% of all SMEs are involved in cross-border activities, which curtails possibilities for growth; believes that Member States should cooperate in harmonising administrative requirements that affect intra-Community activities; calls on the Commission, with the aid of the EIB, to put in place a cross-border investment framework that will eventually lead to a pan-European venture capital market; calls on the Member States swiftly to transpose and implement the Services Directive paying special attention to the interests of SMEs;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 142 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that there is an imperative need to cut red tape by at least 25% and to put in place a modern administration adapted to the needs of SMEs, to enable them to save time and money and to devote the resulting resources to their development; in this regard, calls on the Commission and the Member States to take initiatives in order to exchange and promote best administrative practices, set benchmarks (“naming and shaming”), and elaborate and promote guidelines and standards for SME-friendly administrative practices;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 150 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Emphasises the fundamental importance of evaluating the impact of future legislative initiatives on SMEs; therefore calls for systematic and targeted impact assessments for SMEs, a so called ‘SME test’ for all new proposals for EU legislation affecting business, which would present, whenever relevant, concrete proposals for simplification/reduction of administrative burdens for SMEs/micro- enterprises;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 164 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Encourages Member States to set up national dedicated information contact points and support agencies, as well as physical or electronic one-stop-shops, for SMEs, offering access to various sources of information, structured according to the life cycle of a business, and facilitating start-up, recruitment, training, and business advising procedures;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 175 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Welcomes the Best Idea for Red Tape Reduction Award for the public authorities that have delivered innovative red tape reduction measures at a local, regional or national level;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 13 #

2008/2174(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas cohesion policy has already been successful in creating some important synergies with other Community policies with the aim of increasing their impact on the ground and for the benefit of European citizens and synergies that established between cohesion policy and research and innovation or the Lisbon strategy represent success stories that have delivered tangible positive results;
2008/12/10
Committee: REGI
Amendment 33 #

2008/2174(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Observes that the view expressed in its above-mentioned resolution of 21 February 2008 includes the rejection of any attempt for re-nationalisation and the commitment to a single, flexible Community policy, capable of adapting to the most appropriate scale of intervention, which should also be in a position to address common challenges like globalisation, climate and demographic change, migration, energy efficiency; the strong belief that this policy should cover all EU regions, including those with special geographical characteristics and special needs and capabilities, by representing an added value for everyone; the need to set appropriate priorities in the spending of EU structural policies and actions and the endorsement of the "earmarking" exercise; as well as the need for synergies on the ground and an integrated approach between the different sectoral policies in order to achieve the optimal result for growth and development on the ground;
2008/12/10
Committee: REGI
Amendment 67 #

2008/2174(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Agrees with the approach of not including any references to possible budgetary and financial implications of territorial cohesion in the Green Paper and the public debate; considers that such an analysis would be premature until the concept itself is clearly defined and understood by all stakeholders; considers, moreover, that any discussion of this issue is inseparable from the whole process of negotiating and planning for future political cohesion; suggests that these considerations should be made in the framework of the next financial perspectives;
2008/12/10
Committee: REGI
Amendment 108 #

2008/2174(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that the Green Paper acknowledges the particular development challenges of regions with specific geographical features, such as mountainous regions, island regions and sparsely populated regions; also notes that border regions face specific policy challenges in terms of accessibility, quality and efficiency; rejectwithout belittling the role of territorial cohesion in addressing the problems of those regions, expresses the view that territorial cohesion should not be a policy exclusively dedicairected to addressing the problems ofwards those regions; considers, however, that special consideration should be given to the development of those regions in order to offset their handicaps and enable them to effectively contribute to the harmonious development of the Union as a whole;
2008/12/10
Committee: REGI
Amendment 148 #

2008/2174(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the need to elaborate, in the context of territorial cohesion, additional qualitative indicators with the purpose of better designing and implementing the corresponding policies on the ground, taking into account the different territorial specificities; underlines, however, that the GDP remains the only eligibility criterion for receiving financial assistance from the Structural Fund, as a criterion for receiving financial assistance from the Structural Funds, is not enough, and must be supplemented with indicators incorporating economic, social and territorial factors; calls on the Commission, therefore, to draw up, without delay, the necessary studies and to develop the possibility of defining new, reliable indicators and the way in which they are to be integrated into the system for assessing regional disparities;
2008/12/10
Committee: REGI
Amendment 170 #

2008/2174(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Reiterates its long-standing request for the development of a comprehensive EU strategy for regions with specific geographical features, which will enable them to better address problems and challenges they are facing; believes that an EU strategy should also be concerned on how to adapt Community policies to the specific needs and assets of these territories; underlines that the implementation of such a strategy is an essential condition for the development of these territories in the context of territorial cohesion;
2008/12/10
Committee: REGI
Amendment 9 #

2008/2140(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the widespread use of CCS 'technologies is necessary in order to attain the ambitious EU climate targets going beyond 2020, and the use of these technologies must complementbe purely complementary in nature to energy efficiency efforts on the supply and demand side and in the field of renewable energies,
2008/09/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 26 #

2008/2140(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that CCS technologies could potentially have a substantive contribution to make in achieving security of supply and climate protection, not only in Europe but also worldwide;
2008/09/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 44 #

2008/2140(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Regards using structural fund resources for CCS demonstration facilities as an option only if individual regions have not yet committed the appropriations or submitted proposals for other long-term projects, and emphasises that the acceptance of climate protection efforts will decrease if appropriations for improving economic and social cohesion have to compete with climate protection measures;
2008/09/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 28 #

2008/2099(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the Member States to agree on a common timetable which will take account of the different capacities of the Member States and to release their digital dividends as quickly as possible, allowing European citizens to benefit from the deployment of new, innovative and competitive services;
2008/06/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 59 #

2008/2099(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages Member States to take into account the appropriateness of allowing unlicensed users access to the dividend, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises and the not-for-profit sector and, principally, whether and how unlicensed access can be reconciled with the promotion of innovation and not result in distortion of competition or shortage of spectrum;
2008/06/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 78 #

2008/2099(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that the immediacy of switchover in some Member States and the differences in national switchover plans require an immediate response at Community level that can not wait until the reform directives enter into forcewill facilitate coordination at variable speeds but towards common objectives;
2008/06/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 123 #

2008/2099(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Urges the Commission to seek cooperation with neighbouring countries of the 27 Member States of the EU so that they adopt similar frequency maps or coordinate the allocation of their frequencies with the EU in order to avoid disruptions to the operation of telecommunications applications;
2008/06/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 6 #

2008/2066(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Proposes that in the context of the Green Paper on EU territorial cohesion, to be published in autumn 2008, and in keeping with the objectives of the territorial agenda and the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), the Commission should submit, in cooperation with Member States, promote some specific measures to compensate for the handicaps of mountain regions;
2008/06/06
Committee: REGI
Amendment 8 #

2008/2066(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Would likeCalls upon the Commission to develop a genuine European integrated strategy for mountainsforthwith to draw up a genuinely integrated European strategy for regions affected by serious and permanent natural or demographic problems, as referred to in Article 158 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the Lisbon Treaty, and including northernmost regions which are particularly sparsely populated and island, cross-border and mountainous regions, initially by submitting a Green Paper on mountains; these matters;
2008/06/06
Committee: REGI
Amendment 24 #

2008/2066(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that sustainable, modernised and dynamic agriculture is necessary for maintaining other activities and for preserving, such as the development of biofuel and agri-tourism increasing the income of local populations;
2008/06/06
Committee: REGI
Amendment 32 #

2008/2066(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the importance of ensuring a high level of services of general economic interest, of improving accessibility and interconnection, including in the Eurozone, and of providing the necessary infrastructure.
2008/06/06
Committee: REGI
Amendment 7 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the regions of the European Union are confronted with broadly similar challenges: globalisation and the accelerated economic restructuring that goes with it, the opening up of trade relations, the consequences of climate change, the technological revolution, the development of the knowledge-based economy, demographic change and the rise in immigration,
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 27 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Stresses the particular added value of using and disseminating best practices in the regional policy sector; believes that the creation of an integrated system for highlighting and publishing best practices will not only make a decisive contribution not only to making European citizens more directly aware of successful Structural Fund interventions, but, more importantly, will substantively assist the bodies implementing these programmes by providing solutions to joint problems and choosing more effective and targeted interventions;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 31 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 - indent 2 a (new)
- to draw up special policy measures and new qualitative indicators for regions with specific geographical characteristics, such as mountainous, island, sparsely population, outermost and border regions, and accordingly to adapt the territorial scale of policy interventions with the aim of promoting the territorial cohesion of the European Union;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 37 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1α. Points in particular to the need to simplify the procedures governing the implementation of Structural Fund projects and programmes, particularly as regards management and control systems; approves the Commission's recent legislative proposals in this direction and stresses the need for them to be supplemented by new measures such as the Commission undertook to announce within the next few months;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 46 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5α.Takes the view also that the use of a commonly accepted definition of 'best practices' will help clarify this term and help avoid confusion, particularly as regards other related terms; calls on the Commission to formulate such a definition for the regional policy sector and to publish it on the relevant website of DG REGIO;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 49 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
- project quality - assurance of partnership principle - promotion of coordination between the EU's sectoral and territorial policies - sustainability of the measure - respect for equal opportunities - innovativeness of the project - effective use of resources - duration of project before implementation - implementation of the project on time and to plan - significant driving force for the region or the EU overall - facilitation of networking and territorial cooperation between regions - transferability of project, i.e. its applicability in other regions of the European Union;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 95 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Stresses that all the criteria for highlighting best practices must be clearly measurable so as to avoid subjective judgments and evaluations which may undermine the entire project grading procedure based on these criteria; calls therefore on the Commission clearly to describe both the content of these criteria and how they should be implemented;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 96 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Is aware that it is exceptionally difficult for a project cumulatively to meet all the above criteria; proposes that a distinction be drawn between compulsory and optional criteria so as to make it easier to designate noteworthy projects as best practices;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 102 #

2008/2061(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recommends that the Commission use the available tools of the Committee of the Regions, in particular the Lisbon Monitoring Platform and the Subsidiarity Monitoring Network in order to exchange best practices between regions and Member States with a view to identifying and jointly determining the objectives, then planning actions and, finally, undertaking a comparative evaluation of the results of cohesion policy;
2009/01/23
Committee: REGI
Amendment 28 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that mitigation and adaptation efforts need to go hand in hand, since managing the already existing consequences of climate change is of paramount importance for many EU regions and sectors of the economy;
2008/10/10
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 107 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that the production of biofuels is partly to blame for increased food prices, increasing loss of biodiversity and deforestation, but that abandoning biofuels can resolve neither the problem of hunger in the world nor the issue of climate- compatible mobility;
2008/10/10
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 143 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Calls on the Member States to devise a comprehensive public procurement policy at national, regional and local level in order to enhance the energy efficiency of public buildings and of electrical appliances used in public services, thereby setting an example and stimulating greater demand for green products and services;
2008/10/10
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 228 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
74. Considers, particularly with regard to the technological neutrality of the EU approach, that CCS should be discussed extensively and with the involvement of private and public stakeholders, without prejudging the outcome;
2008/10/10
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 263 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 92
92. Highlights in this connection the need for monitoring programmes in European forests to permit the early detection of pest damage and for scientific risk modelling in relation to wooded areas prone to heat waves, wildfires and drought, so as to make it possible to take appropriate counter-measures to protect the forest;
2008/10/10
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 296 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 109 a (new)
109a. Considers that enhancing research and development on waste treatment and resource management solutions is vital and stresses the need for immediate application of new innovative technologies in this field;
2008/10/10
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 420 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O
O. whereas the available funding for adaptation measures in developing countries is quite inadequate and should be substantially increased, especially in developing countries,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 432 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital W
W. whereas energy savings are the cheapest and cleanest way of saving resources and thus combating climate change, and whereas committed and sustained efforts to enhance the EU’s energy efficiency will bring about widespread structural solutions across the economy, thereby paving the way towards a green low-carbon economy,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 440 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital Z
Z. whereas current policy on biofuels has resulted in a conflict of objectives marked on the one hand by a growing scarcity of food and, rising food prices, increasing loss of biodiversity and deforestation, and on the other by increasing energy needs and the search for alternative fuels,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 446 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital AC
AC. whereas a sustainable biofuels policy should be geared not only to setting sustainability criteria for the manufacture of first-generation biofuels but also to promoting the ideology-freemost rapid development possible of second-generation biofuels,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 463 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital AH a (new)
AHa. whereas public procurement has a very important role to play in enhancing energy efficiency by creating more demand for green products and services and by setting an example,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 492 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital BF
BF. whereas the technology for CO2 capture and storage (CCS), as a bridging technology on the way to the decarbonisation of the energy system, may make contribute to resolving the issue of sinking CO2 emissions from power stations and could serve to complement renewable technologies, but whereas CCS is still an end- of-pipe technology,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 520 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital BZ a (new)
BZa. whereas the joint EEA, JRC and WHO report entitled “Impacts of Europe’s changing climate” draws attention to the fact that vulnerability to climate change varies widely across regions and sectors in Europe, hitting mountainous regions, coastal zones, the Mediterranean and the Arctic harder, and whereas that report underlines that, in addition to enhanced global greenhouse gas emission reductions, pro-active adaptation measures are needed at European and national level in order to moderate effects,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 529 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital CD
CD. whereas committed action to combat climate change is compatible with continued economic growth and prosperity and must be seen as a challenge for wide- ranging structural changes having as their ultimate objective the development of a truly green economy,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 534 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital CG
CG. whereas improved efficiency alone will not spark off a technological revolution, but will probably only favour those technologies and processes which hanecessitate an integrated strategy at European, national and local level to boost R&D in novel already been developed and are ready for the marketnd advanced technologies and processes, and to strengthen their take-up,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 535 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital CH
CH. whereas improved efficiency cannot achieve cost reductions for the development of new and thus expensive technologies, nor market penetration for those which have already been developed and are particularly urgently needed to meet the long-term climate objectives,deleted
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 539 #

2008/2015(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital CK
CK. whereas the current EU budget isas well as the national budgets of EU Member States are insufficient to achieve the climate objectives, since the political priority of combating climate change has not been furnished with the necessary budgetary appropriations,
2008/10/13
Committee: CLIM
Amendment 7 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the European energy market continues to be characterised by a large number of monopolies. This restricts freedom of choice and the possibility of changing supplier quickly and free of charge, increases the lack of information and, as a result, heightens the vulnerability of consumers. Efforts to create a single, competitive energy market must, therefore, be continued;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 13 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that guaranteeing supply to people with lower incomes is necessary in the light of increasing energy prices; considers it important that Member States take steps to define exactly this group of consumers as quickly as possible and take measures to support them, such as 'social tariffs' to ensure continuity of access to electricity and natural gas, and measures to subsidise insulation and improvements to increase the energy efficiency of buildings;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 28 #

2008/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need to enhance the coordination of Strategic Energy Technologies at various levels and among different partners; also stresses the need to avoid excessive bureaucracy and, ensure simplicity and clarity and secure widespread participation of all potential partners when improving coordination, for example through the European Community Steering Group and the European Energy Research Alliance, which should be open to all European research centres regardless of their dimension or resources;
2008/05/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 39 #

2008/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Strongly believes that increased support is urgently needed for low carbon technologies in the demonstration and commercialisation phase; therefore welcomes, the proposed EIIs; stresses, however, the need to also increase support for R&D in technologies that will be needed over the longer term, with particular emphasis on strategically important technologies such as solar energy technologies that can lead to an energy-independent Europe in the long term;
2008/05/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 116 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The regulatory body shall be provided with adequate authority, competence and financial and human resources to fulfil its responsibilities and discharge its duties. It shall supervise and regulate the safety of nuclear installations, control the movement of radioactive materials and ensure the implementation of safety requirements, condition and safety regulations.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 70 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
(9) The energy performance of buildings should be calculated on the basis of a comparative 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 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
Amendment 88 #

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 of new buildings that should gradually be constructed as buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are equal to zero, and regularly report them to the Commission.
2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 152 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 3
(3) "energy performance of a building" means the calculated or measured amount of energy needed to meet the energy demand associated with a typical use of the building, which includes inter alia energy used for heating, hot water , cooling, ventilation and lighting, passive solar gains, sun shading and lighting; it shall be expressed in kWh/m2 per year;
2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 161 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 5 a (new)
(5a) "envelope component": means an individual and integral part of the building, including windows, shading, walls, foundations, basement slab, ceiling, and roof, and insulation thereof, which influences the energy performance of the building and which is not covered by the technical building system;
2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 167 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 6
(6) "major renovation": means the renovation of a building where (a) the total cost of the renovation related to the building envelope or the technical building systems is higher than 25 15% of the value of the building, excluding the value of the land upon which the building is situated, or (b) more than 215 % of the surface of the building envelope undergoes renovation;
2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 178 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 10
(10) "cost-optimal level" means the lowest level of 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 as well as environmental costs, where applicable;
2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 192 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Member States shall apply a comparative methodology of calculation of the energy performance of buildings in accordance with the general framework set out in Annex I.
2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 232 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) residential buildings which are intended to be used less than four months of the year;deleted
2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 268 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that new buildings meet the minimum energy performance requirements set in accordance with Article 4 and that gradually all new buildings are constructed in accordance with Article 9.
2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 295 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that when buildings undergo major renovation, 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 be set either for the renovated building as a whole orand for the renovated systems or componentand the envelope components of the buildings when these are part of a renovation to be carried out within a limited time period, with the objective of improving the overall energy performance of the building or parts thereof.
2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 328 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall draw up national plans for increasing the number of new buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero. Tequal to zero and of existing buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low, or where possible equal to zero. For new buildings Member States shall gradually set as the construction standard carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption which are equal to zero. For existing buildings, they shall set targets for the minimum percentage which those buildings in 2020 shall constitute of the total number of buildings and represent in relation to the total useful floor area.
2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 372 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. The recommendations included in the energy performance certificate shall be technically feasible for the specific building and shall provide transparent information as to their cost-effectiveness and pay-back period according to the applicable construction costs in the market of the Member States at the moment of issuing the certificate. The evaluation of cost-effectiveness shall be based on a set of standard conditions, such as on the assessment of energy savings and underlying energy prices, available financial or fiscal incentives and interest rates for investments necessary to implement the recommendations.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 376 #

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 financing institutions 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
Amendment 380 #

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
Amendment 386 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 7
7. The validity of the energy performance certificate shall not exceed 10 years. Within a period of three years from the date of issue of the energy performance certificate, public authorities shall fully implement its recommendations.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 391 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that an energy performance certificate is issued for buildings or parts thereof which are constructed, sold or rented out and for buildings where a total useful floor area over 250 m2 is occupied by a public authority.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 400 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take measures to ensure that where a total useful floor area over 250 m2 of afor building is occupied by public authorities, the energy performance certificate is displayed in a prominent place clearly visible to the public.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 408 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall lay down the necessary measures to establish a regular inspection of air-conditioning systems of an effective rated output of more than 12 kW and of ventilation systems. The inspection shall include an assessment of the air-conditioning efficiency and the sizing compared to the cooling requirements of the building.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 49 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
(7) Energy-related products have an impact on the consumption of a wide variety of forms of energy during use , electricity and gas being the most important. This Directive should therefore cover energy- related products having an impact on the consumption of any form of energy during use.
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 58 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
(14) Power should be conferred on the Commission to adopt implementing measures in respect of labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other essential resources by energy-related products during use. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, they shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC;
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 60 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive establishes a framework for the harmonization of national measures on end-user information , particularly by means of labelling and of product information, on the consumption of energy and of other essential resources during use, and supplementary information concerning energy-related products , thereby allowing end-users to choose more efficient products.
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 76 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) with respect to products covered by this Directive, the display of other labels, marks, symbols or inscriptions which do not comply with the requirements of this Directive and of the relevant implementing measures is prohibited, if such display is likely to mislead or confuse end-users with respect to the consumption of energy or, where relevant, other essential resources during use;
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 81 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Where there is sufficient evidence that a product may be non-compliant, the Member State concerned shall take the necessary preventive measures. and conformity measures (e.g. by means of regular on- the-spot checks, financial penalties and other measures) and should refer evidence of non-compliance to the Commission for initial action.
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 82 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Where non-compliance continues, the Member State shall take a decision restricting or prohibiting the placing on the market and/or putting into service of the product in question or ensuring that it is withdrawn from the market. In cases of withdrawal of the product from the market or prohibition to place the product on the market,, provided that any such decision is taken after notification to and coordination with the Commission and the other Member States shall be immediately informed.
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 83 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – point 1
(1) information relating to the consumption of electric energy, other forms of energy and other essential resources during use, and supplementary information is , in accordance with implementing measures pursuant to this Directive, brought to the attention of end-users by means of a fiche and a label related to products offered for sale, hire, hire-purchase or displayed to end-users directly or indirectly by any means of distance selling including the internet;
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 97 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Paragraph 1 shall apply to contracts having a value exclusive of value-added tax (VAT) estimated to be equal or greater than EUR 15000. Implementing measures may set the threshold at a higher value than EUR 15000 exclusive of VAT, taking into account normal purchase prices and volumes.
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 84 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 5 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
By way of derogation from the second subparagraphIn order to ensure the effectiveness of the regulation, the home provider mayshall not apply an initial minimum charging period not exceeding 30 seconds to calls made which are subject to a Eurotariff.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 105 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6 a – paragraph 1
1. Home providers shall ensure that their roaming customers are kept adequately informed of the charges which apply to their use of regulated data roaming services, in waysa clear, concise and intelligible manner which facilitates the customers' understanding of the financial consequences of such use and permit them to monitor and control their expenditure on regulated data roaming services in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 118 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Such personalised tariff information shall be delivered to the roaming customer's mobile telephone or other device, whenever the roaming customer enters a Member State or initiates a regulated data roaming service in a particular Member State other than that of his home network for the first time after having entered that Member State. It shall be provided without undue delay and free of charge, by an appropriate means adapted to facilitate its receipt and easy comprehension.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 120 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. By 1 July31st December 20109 at the latest, the home providers shall provide a 'Cut-Off Limit' facility whereby they offer and keep available to all their roaming customers, free of charge, the possibility to specifoffer to all their roaming customers the opportunity to opt deliberately and free of charge for a ‘cut- off limit’ facility. Each home provider shall define this ‘cut-off limit’ facility by a maximum monthly fin advance a maximum financial limit,ancial limit. This maximum monthly financial limit shall not exceed 50 EUR (excluding VAT) and shall be expressed in the currency in which the roaming customer is billed, for their outstanding charges for regulated data roaming services.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 131 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
In addition, the home provider may offer to its roaming customers other ‘cut-off limits’ with different, namely, higher , lower or maximum monthly financial limits such as flat rates.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 135 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 b (new)
By 1 March 2010, all roaming customers who did not express their choice shall be automatically placed on a ‘cut-off limit’ of 50 EUR (excluding VAT).
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 141 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
When this If the roaming customer does not request the continued provision of those services, and the ‘Cut-Off Limit is reached, the home provider shall immediately cease to provide the roaming customer with regulated data roaming services, unless and until the roaming customer requests the continued or renewed provision of thoseing regulated data roaming services.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 149 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
The home provider shall also ensure that an appropriate warning message is sent to the roaming customer's mobile telephone or other device before one or more intermediate charge limits, agreed between the customer and the home provider in advance, are reachAs of 1 March 2010, whenever the monthly outstanding charges for regulated data roaming services have reached 80% of the applicable ‘Cut-Off- Limit’, the home provider has to send an appropriate warning message, which must be clear and easily noticeable to the roaming customer, to the device used. This warning message shall inform the roaming customer that the Cut-Ooff -Limit is about to be reached and indicate the procedure to be followed by the customer if he or she wishes to request the continued or renewed provision of those services.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 154 #

2008/0187(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
From 1 March 2010, whenever a roaming customer requests to opt for or to remove a ‘cut off limit’ facility, the change must be made free of charge within one working day of receipt of the request, and shall not result in the imposition of conditions or restrictions on other elements of the subscription.
2009/02/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 33 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Each Member State shall designate the body or bodies responsible for carrying out the tasks provided for in this Regulation (hereinafter referred to as "the competent body" or "the competent bodies") and ensure that they are operational, providing them with all the necessary financial means and human resources. Where more than one competent body is designated, the Member State shall determine those bodies' respective powers and the coordination requirements applicable to them.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 35 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) indicate, where appropriate, the three key environmental characteristics that shallmay be placed on the Ecolabel;
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 41 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 6
6. The competent body which has registered a product shall notify each registration to the Commission. The Commission shall establish a common register and update it regularly. That register shall be publicly available in a web-portal dedicated to the Ecolabel.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 24 #

2008/0151(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
(23) When preparing implementing measures and its working plan the Commission should consult Member States' representatives as well as interested parties concerned with the product or product group, such as industry, including SMEs and craft industry, trade unions, traders, retailers, importers, environmental protection groups and consumer organisations.
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 29 #

2008/0151(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive establishes a framework for the setting of Community ecodesign requirements for energy related products with the aim of improving their environmental performance during their life cycle and ensuring the free movement of those products within the internal market.
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 43 #

2008/0151(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – indent 1
– implementing measures starting with those products or product groups which have been identified by the ECCP as offering a high potential for cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as heating and water heating equipment, electric motor systems, lighting in both the domestic and tertiary sectors, domestic appliances, office equipment in both the domestic and tertiary sectors, consumer electronics and HVAC (heating ventilating air conditioning) systems;
2008/12/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 41 #

2008/0018(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The ability of the users and where appropriate their supervisors shall be taken into account, in particular, in the case of toys which, by virtue of their functions, dimensions and characteristics, are intended for use by children of under 360 months.
2008/09/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 133 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
(5) The Brussels European Council of March 2007 reaffirmed the Community's commitment to the Community-wide development of renewable energies beyond 2010. It endorsed a mandatory target of a 20% share of renewable energies in overall Community energy consumption by 2020 and a mandatory 10% minimum target to be achieved by all Member States for the share of biofuels in transport petrol and diesel consumption by 2020, to be introduced in a cost-effective way. It stated that the binding character of the biofuel target is appropriate only when subject to production being sustainable, second- generation biofuels becoming commercially available and Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC being amended to allow for adequate levels of blending. Given the most recent evidence which shows a connection between increased use of biofuels on the one hand, and a worldwide increase in environmental and ecological threats and endangerment of food security on the other, it seems appropriate that until 2015 Member States initially pursue a mandatory target for biofuels of less than 10%. On the basis of an evaluation, Member States should decide whether to increase this initial target between 2015 and 2020.
2008/06/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 145 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
6a. Within the framework of this Directive, it is vital that each Member State employs the most efficient and effective support scheme to facilitate the achievement of the renewable energy targets, taking into account the specific characteristics of the electricity market within that Member State.
2008/06/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 147 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
(8) In the light of the positions taken by the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament, it is appropriate to establish mandatory targets for an overall 20% share of renewable energy and 10% share of renewable energy in transport in the European Union's consumption in 2020.
2008/06/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 156 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
(10) By contrast, it is appropriate for the 10% target for renewable energy in transport to be set at the same level for each Member State in order to ensure consistency in transport fuel specifications and availability. Because transport fuels are traded easily, Member States with low endowments of the relevant resources will easily be able to obtain renewable transport fuels from elsewhere. While it would technically be possible for the Community to meet its biofuel target solely from domestic production, it is both likely and desirable that the target will in fact be met through a combination of domestic production and imports. To this end, the Commission should monitor the supply of the Community market for biofuels, and should, as appropriate, propose relevant measures to achieve a balanced approach between domestic production and imports, taking into account the development of multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations as well as environmental, cost, energy security and other considerations.deleted
2008/06/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 191 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
(16) Heat pumps using geothermal resources from the ground or groundwater, and heat pumps using ambient heat from thesurface water or air to transfer the thermal energy to a useful temperature level, need some energy input (typically electricity) to function. Heat pumps using ambient heat from the air often require the use of significant amountsThermal energy generated by heating ofr conventional energy. Therefore, only useful thermal energy coming from heat pumps using ambient heat from the air that meet the minimum requirements of the coefficient of performance established in Commission Decision 2007/742/EC, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme, should be taken into account for the purpose of measuring compliance with the targets established by this Directiveoling systems using geothermal energy from the ground or water should be taken into account after having deduced the non-renewables final energy input required to operate the systems.
2008/06/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 236 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) The European Parliament, in its Resolution of 14 February 2006 with recommendations to the Commission on heating and cooling from renewable sources of energy1, called for tax advantages, direct investment aid, regulatory measures and other mechanisms for the promotion of the utilisation of renewable energy systems and of local and remote district heating and cooling from renewable energies. _______________________________ 1 OJ C 280 E, 29.11.2006, p. 115.
2008/06/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 340 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point a
(a) “energy from renewable sources” means renewable non-fossil energy sources: wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases, waste heat from cogeneration, natural cooling; this definition may be adapted to technical progress by the Commission acting in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 21(3);
2008/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 397 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. Each Member State shall ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in transport in 202015 is at least 104% of final consumption of energy in transport in that Member State. The Commission, on the basis of the results of the monitoring and the reporting as required under article 20 and in due time, may propose that this Directive is amended so that Member States ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in transport increases between 2015 and 2020.
2008/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 420 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Each Member State, in cooperation with its regional authorities and in close consultation with stakeholders, shall adopt a national action plan.
2008/06/24
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 437 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall notify their national action plans to the Commission by 31 March 2010 at the latest. 1║. The Commission shall, by 2009, provide a template for the national action plans in order to give guidance to the Member States and facilitate benchmarking.
2008/06/24
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 449 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Member States may apply to the Commission for account to be taken, for the purposes of paragraph 1, of the construction of renewable energy plants with very long lead-times on their territory under the following conditions: (a) construction of the renewable energy plant must have started by 20168; (b) the renewable energy plant must have a production capacity equal to or in excess of 51000 MW or at least equal to 5 % of the maximum power capacity of the Member State concerned; (c) it must not be possible for the plant to become operational by 2020; (d) it must be possible for the plant to become operational by 20224.
2008/06/24
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 456 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Where a Member State considers that, due to force majeure, it is under an impossibility to meet the share of energy from renewable sources in final consumption of energy in 2020 set out in the third column of the table in Annex 1, it shall inform the Commission as soon as possible. The Commission, after a comprehensive consultation with the Member State concerned, shall adopt a decision on whether force majeure has been demonstrated, in which case it shall decide what adjustment shall be made to the Member State’s final consumption of energy from renewable sources for the year 2020.
2008/06/24
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 467 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Thermal energy generated by heat pumps using geothermal energy from the ground or water shall be taken into account f, waste heat, or othe purposes of paragraph 1(b). Thermal energy generated by heat pumps using ambient heat from the airr thermal heat from renewable energy sources, shall be taken into account for the purposes of paragraph 1(b), provided that the energy efficiency of such heat pumps meet to the extent that it exceeds the mfinimum requirements of eco-labelling laid down pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000, where applicable, in particular the minimum coefficient of performance established in Decision 2007/742/EC, and reviewed in accordance with that Regulational energy input of non-renewable resources required to operate the systems.
2008/06/24
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 628 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that any national rules concerning the authorisation, certification and licensing procedures that are applied to plants and associated transmission and distribution network infrastructures for the production of electricity, heating or cooling from renewable sources, and to the process of transformation of biomass into biofuels or other energy products, are proportionate and necessary.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 633 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the respective responsibilities of national, regional and local administrative bodies for authorisation, certification and licensing procedures are clearly defined, withincluding land planning, with short and precise deadlines for approving planning and building applications and that the administration acts as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the applicants;
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 637 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) clear guidelines for the development of renewable energy projects developed in areas designated under Community environmental legislation;
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 642 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) appropriate regulatory measures and tax advantages to promote the most cost- effective utilisation of renewable energy systems and associated heating and cooling networks are in place;
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 644 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall clearly define any technical specifications which must be met by renewable energy equipment and systems in order to be connected to the grid and benefit from support schemes. Where European standards exist, including eco-labels, energy labels and other technical reference systems established by the European standardisation bodies, such technical specifications shall be expressed in terms of those standards. Such technical specifications shall not prescribe where the equipment and systems are to be certified.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 657 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
4. In their building regulations and codes Member States shall require the use of minimum levels of energy from renewable sources or a maximum level of energy consumption per square meter in new orand refurbished buildings. Any exemption from those minimum levels shall be transparent and based on criteria relating to:
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 670 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
(ba) cultural and architectural heritage.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 683 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
5. With respect to their building regulations and codes, Member States shall promote the use of renewable energy heating and cooling systems and equipment that achieve a significant reduction of energy consumption, with particular emphasis on solar thermal heating and cooling. Member States shall use energy or eco- labels or other appropriate certificates or standards developed at national or European level, where these exist, as the basis for encouraging such systems and equipment.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 695 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Easy access to public and private financing and renewables projects of European interest shall be guaranteed. In order to ease the financing of the achievement of the 20 % target, the Commission and the Member States shall, by 31 December 2009, present an analysis and plan aimed, in particular, at the: – better use of structural funds and framework programmes for renewable energies; – better and increased use of funds from the European Investment Bank and other public finance institutions; and – better access to risk capital notably by analysing the feasibility of a risk sharing facility for investments in renewables energies in the European Union similar to the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund initiative which is reserved to renewables and energy efficiency investments in third countries. The Commission shall, in particular, analyse how those new financing possibilities could be used for the speeding up of ”renewables projects of European interest” through the acceleration of the: – development of 100 % or high renewables energy communities and cities in the framework of the “covenant of majors initiative”; – development of the required network infrastructure to develop off-shore wind and marine energy potentials in the various maritime areas of the European Union; – take-up of biomass based district heating and cooling networks in Northern and Eastern EU in combination with a major retrofitting programme of the existing building stock; – development of interconnectors with Mediterranean countries in order fully to tape into the vast potential of wind and solar thermal electricity potential in Mediterranean and other neighbouring countries.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 717 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall develop, by 31 December 2014 and after consultation with relevant stakeholders, certification schemes for installers of small-scale biomass boilers and stoves, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems and heat pumps. Those schemes shall be based on the criteria laid down in Annex IV. Each Member State shall recognise certification awarded by other Member States in accordance with these criteria.
2008/07/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 751 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. Without prejudice to the maintenance of the reliability and safety of the grid, security of supply and fair competition, Member States shall ensure that transmission system operators and distribution system operators in their territory guarantee the transmission and distribution of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. They shall also and provide for priority access to the grid system of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. When dispatching electricity generating installations, transmission system operators shall give priority to generating installations using renewable energy sources insofar as the security of the national electricity system permits.
2008/07/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 774 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. The Commission shall carry out by 2 years after the entry into force of this Directive an assessment of the potential costs to energy-intensive industries and to households brought about by the necessary technical adaptations of the electricity transmission and distribution networks. Member States shall take appropriate measures to protect vulnerable energy consumers from the full costs referred to in paragraph 8a and to reduce energy poverty.
2008/07/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 991 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(ka) measures taken to ensure that new and refurbished buildings use a minimum level of energy from renewable sources or consume a maximum level of energy per square metre, as referred to in Art. 12(4);
2008/07/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1000 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 3
3. On the basis of the reports submitted by Member States pursuant to Article 19(1) and the monitoring and analysis referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Commission shall report every two years to the European Parliament and the Council. The first report shall be submitted in 2012. An interim report shall be submitted to the European Parliament and the Commission by June 2015 the latest, taking into account the reports submitted by the Member States in accordance with article 19 and after an effective public consultation with the relevant stakeholders. The Commission shall in particular report on the impediments which arose in reaching the intermediate objectives, the costs of realization of the set targets and the environmental benefits and impact, including the savings of CO2 emissions and may propose any necessary corrective measures.
2008/07/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1007 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 5
5. In its reports, the Commission shall analyse: (a) the relative environmental and social benefits and costs of different biofuels, the effects of the Community's import policies thereon, the security of supply implications and the ways of achieving a balanced approach between domestic production and imports; b) the impact of increased demand for biofuel on sustainability in the Community and in third countries; (c) the impact of EU biofuel policy on the availability of foodstuffs in exporting countries, the ability of people in developing countries to afford these foodstuffs, and wider development issues; and (d) the impact of increased demand for biomass on biomass using sectors. It shall, if appropriate, propose corrective action and propose that the initial target of 4% of final consumption of energy in transport from renewable sources be increased.
2008/07/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1047 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 2
2. Biomass, heat pump, shallow geothermal and solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installers shall be certified by an accredited training programme or training provider.
2008/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1055 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
(ba) in the case of shallow geothermal installers: training as a driller or pipe layer and have basic geological skills as a prerequisite;
2008/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1056 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 7 – introductory part
7. The theoretical part of the heat pump installer training shall cover market situation for heat pumps, geothermal resources and ground source temperatures of different regions, soil and rock identification for thermal conductivity, logistics, building laws, regulations on using geothermal resources, feasibility of using heat pumps in buildings and determining the most suitable heat pump system, and knowledge about their technical requirements, safety, air filtering, connection with the heat source and system layout. The training shall also provide good knowledge of any European standards for heat pumps, national and of relevant national and European legislation. The installer shall demonstrate the following key competences:
2008/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1058 #

2008/0016(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The theoretical part of the shallow geothermal installer training shall cover geothermal resources and ground source temperatures of different regions, soil and rock identification for thermal conductivity, regulations on using geothermal resources, determining the most suitable geothermal heat pump system, system layout, drilling technologies, installation of borehole heat exchangers, well construction, pressure testing, logistics, building laws, and safety. The training shall also provide good knowledge of any European standards for shallow geothermal, and of relevant national and European legislation. The installer shall demonstrate the following key competences: a) understanding geological and geothermal parameters of the underground and knowing their determination, nomenclature and identification of soil and rock types, preparing borehole reports incl. lithology, groundwater, etc.; basic geological and hydrogeological knowledge, b) familiarity with different drilling and digging technologies, choice of the optimum drilling method, ensuring protection of the environment (in particular groundwater) while drilling, c) ability to install borehole heat exchangers, to grout, backfill or otherwise complete the ground source system, and to perform pressure tests; skills for welding of plastic pipes and other connection methods, d) ability to construct groundwater wells, to install the relevant pipes, pumps and control systems, e) ability to perform the relevant documentation incl. identification and drawing of drilling locations.
2008/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 66 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The purpose of geological storage is permanent containment of CO2 in such a way as to prevent or reduce as far as possible theny negative effects on the environment and any resulting risk to human health.
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 81 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 3 – point 17
(17) ‘corrective measures’ means any measures taken to correct significant irregularities or to close leakages in order to prevent or minimisehalt the release of CO2 from the storage complex;
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 94 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2α. Member States shall retain the right to withhold storage permits on serious grounds. Such refusal shall be duly substantiated.
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 111 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall inform the Commission of all draft storage permits, the permit applications and any other material taken into consideration by the competent authority when adopting its draft decision. Within six months of their submission to the Commission, the Commission mayust issue an opinion on the draft permits.
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 114 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission must establish specific qualitative and quantitative environmental indicators, together with prices, the exceeding of which shall constitute a substantial change. Qualitative and quantitative indicators shall be established under the regulatory measure with scrutiny referred to in Article 28(2).
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 122 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. A CO2 stream shall consist overwhelmingly of carbon dioxide. To this end, no waste and other matter may be added for the purpose of disposing of that waste or other matter. However, a CO2 stream may contain incidental associated substances from the source, capture or injection process. Concentrations of those substances shall be determined on the basis of specific qualitative and quantitative specifications and shall be below levels that would adversely affect the integrity of the storage site and relevant transport infrastructure and pose a significant risk to the environment or breach the requirements of applicable Community legislation. The Commission shall establish the qualitative and quantitative specifications in accordance with the regulatory measure with scrutiny referred to in Article 28(2).
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 134 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall inform the Commission of all draft decisions of approval prepared by the competent authority pursuant to paragraph 1, including the reports submitted by the operator and any other material taken into consideration by the competent authority when arriving at its conclusion. Within six months of their submission to the Commission, the Commission mayshall issue an opinion on the draft decisions of approval.
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 136 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 18 – paragraph 5
5. After the transfer of responsibility pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 4, the frequency of monitoring may ceasebe limited. However, if any leakages or significant irregularities are identified, monitoring shall be reactivatedonce more be carried out with the requisite frequency as required to assess the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of corrective measures.
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 147 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 27
The Commission may amendpropose amendments to the annexes. Those measures, designed to amend non- essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 28(2).
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 151 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 36 - paragraph 1 - subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by [12 years after publication] at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 152 #

2008/0015(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 37 a (new)
Five years after the entry into force of this directive, the Commission shall submit a proposed review in the light of the reports referred to in Article 25 and taking account of the most recent scientific information and the results of the pilot CO2 storage projects and the commercial exploitation of CO2 capture and storage technology.
2008/06/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 39 #

2008/0014(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
(9) In order to provide for flexibility for Member States in implementing their commitments, to promote sustainable development in third countries, in particular in developing countries, and to provide certainty to investors, the Community should continue to recognise a certain amount of credits from greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in third countries before a future international agreement on climate change has been reached. Member States should ensure that their policies for purchasing these credits enhance the equitable geographical distribution of projects and enhance the achievement of a future international climate change agreement. and that credits fulfil not only strict environmental and social criteria but also additionality criteria which meet with international quality requirements such as the ‘Gold Standard’.
2008/07/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 52 #

2008/0014(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 17
(17) Upon the conclusion by the Community of an international agreement on climate change the eCommission limits for Member States should be adjustedshall submit a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council concerning the adjustment of emission limits for Member States in order to achieve the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitment set out in that agreement, taking into account the principle of solidarity between Member States and the need for sustainable economic growth across the Community. The proposal shall specify the amount of credits from greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in third countries that each Member State can use should be increased by up to half of the additional reduction effort from sources not covered under Directive 2003/87/EC.
2008/07/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 54 #

2008/0014(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 19
(19) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission. In particular power should be conferred on the Commission to adopt, after the conclusion of an international agreement, measures for the adjustment of Member State emission limits, as well as measures for the use of additional types of project credits in accordance with that agreement, as well as to adopt the measures necessary to check transactions under this Decision. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Decision and to supplement this Decision by the addition or modification of new non-essential elements, they should be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC.
2008/07/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 87 #

2008/0014(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall ensure that their policies for purchasing these credits enhance the equitable geographical distribution of projects and the achievement of an international agreement on climate change and that the credits fulfil not only strict environmental and social criteria but also additionality criteria which meet international quality requirements such as the ‘Gold Standard’.
2008/07/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 107 #

2008/0014(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Article 6
1. Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 shall apply uUpon the conclusion by the Community of an international agreement on climate change leading to mandatory reductions exceeding those pursuant to Article 3. 2. From the year following the conclusion of the agreement referred to in paragraph 1, the Community's greenhouse gas emissions from sources not covered under Directive 2003/87/EC in 2020 pursuant to Article 3(1) shall be further reduced by a quantity equal to the overall additional reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the Community from all sources to which the international agreement commits the Community, multiplied by the share of the Community's total greenhouse gas emission reductions for the year 2020 to which the Member States are contributing through greenhouse gas emission reductions from sources not covered under Directive 2003/87/EC pursuant to Article 3. 3. Each Member State shall contribute to the Community's additional reduction effort in proportion to its share of the Community's total emissions from sources not covered under Directive 2003/87/EC for the year 2020 pursuant to Article 3. The Commission shall amend the Annex to adjust the emission limits in accordance with the first subparagraph. That measure, designed to amend non- essential elements of this Decision shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 9(2); 4. Member States may increase the use of greenhouse gas emission reduction credits referred to in Article 4(4) from third countries which have ratified the agreement referred to in paragraph 1 and in accordance with paragraph 5 by up to half of the additional reduction taking place in accordance with paragraph 2. Each Member State may transfer the unused part of that quantity to another Member State. 5. The Commission shall adopt measures to provide for the use by Member States of additional types of project credits or the use by Member States of other mechanisms created under the international agreement, as appropriate. Those measures, designed to amend non- essential elements of this Decision by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 9(2) the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a proposal for the amendment of this decision.
2008/07/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 70 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 14
(14) All Member States will need to make substantial investments to reduce the carbon intensity of their economies by 2020 and those Member States where income per capita is still significantly below the Community average and whose economies are in the process of catching up with the richer Member States will need to make a significant effort to improve energy efficiency. The objectives of eliminating distortions to intra-Community competition and of ensuring the highest degree of economic efficiency in the transformation of the EU economy towards a low carbon economy make it inappropriate to treat economic sectors differently under the Community scheme in individual Member States. It is therefore necessary to develop other mechanisms to support the efforts of those Member States with relatively lower income per capita and higher growth prospects. 90% of the total quantity of allowances to be auctioned should be distributed amongst Member States according to their relative share of 2005 emissions in the Community scheme. 10% of this quantity should be distributed to the benefit of those Member States for the purpose of solidarity and growth in the Community, to be used to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. This distribution of this 10% should take into account levels of income per capita in the year 2005 and the growth prospects of Member States, and be higher for Member States with low income levels per head and high growth prospects. Account must also be taken of the geographical characteristics and disadvantages of certain parts of Europe, such as remote, mountain and island areas. Member States with an average level of income per capita that is more than 20% higher than the average in the Community should contribute to this distribution, except where the direct costs of the overall package estimated in SEC(2008) 85 exceed 0.7% of GDP.
2008/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 73 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 15
(15) Given the considerable efforts of combating climate change and of adapting to its inevitable effects, it is appropriate that at least 20% of the proceeds from the auctioning of allowances should be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to fund research and development for reducing emissions and adaptation, to develop renewable energies to meet the EU’s commitment to using 20% renewable energies by 2020, to meet the commitment of the Community to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020, for the capture and geological storage of greenhouse gases, to contribute to the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund , for measures to avoid deforestation and facilitate adaptation in developing countries, and for addressing social aspects such as possible increases in electricity prices in lower and middle income households. This proportion is significantly below the expected net revenues for public authorities from auctioning, taking into account potentially reduced income from corporate taxes. In addition, proceeds from auctioning of allowand the price of other basic commodities in lower and middle income households, for investments in developing countries with a view to further reducing emissions and creating an economy based on low emissions and for measures to improve the competitivity of European compancies should be used to cover administrative expenses of the management of the Community scheme. Provisions should be included on monitoring the use of funds from auctioning for these purposes. Such notification does not release Member States from the obligation laid down in Article 88(3) of the Treaty, to notify certain national measures. The Directive does not prejudice the outcome of any future State aid procedures that may be undertaken and encourage initiatives by companies to combat climate change, by placing emphasis on energy efficiency and increasing funding for renewable energy sources, for research and development in the field of low emission technologies, for technical infrastructural improvements and for measures to reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system on areas facing serious geographical and demographic problems, while taking accordance with Articles 87 and 88 of the Treatdditional measures to develop a sustainable energy policy.
2008/06/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 158 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 6 – paragraph 1 - subparagraph 2
The competent authority shall, at least every five years, review the greenhouse gas emissions permit and make any amendments as are appropriate, in the light of the most recent scientific findings.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 171 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 7
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
For the purposes of subparagraph (b), as regards the distribution of allowances amongst Member States for the purpose of solidarity and growth within the Community, account should be taken of criteria such as geographical specificities and the handicaps of geographical regions, in particular remote mountainous or island regions.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 186 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 7
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(da) Investments in developing countries, which have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and will ratify the future international convention, will contribute to an additional reduction in greenhouse gas emissions beyond the 20% which must be achieved within the European Union and will contribute significantly to the development of a low emission economy in the developing countries;
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 187 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 7
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point f
to address social aspects in lower and middle income households, for example by increasing their energy efficiency and insulation; and, granting subsidies or providing special rates for basic goods or other financial inducements;
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 188 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 7
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
(fa) to mitigate the impact of the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme on regions beset by severe geographical and demographic handicaps by taking additional measures to develop a sustainable energy policy;
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 190 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 7
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point f b (new)
(fb) to improve the competitiveness of European undertakings and promote entrepreneurial actions to address climate change, giving emphasis to energy performance and increasing funding for renewable sources of energy, for research and development in low emission technologies and for technical improvements in infrastructures.
2008/06/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 308 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 8
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 10a – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 3 - point c
(c) market structure, relevant geographic markets, such as immediate vicinity of countries and markets where the sector concerned is not subject to binding objectives or of countries or markets where installations do not fulfil the specified carbon efficiency standards, and product market, the exposure of the sectors to international competition;
2008/06/30
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 336 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 9
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
An installation which ceases to operate shall receive no further free allowances. Such allowances, if unused, may be transferred to existing installations in the same sector, which have carried out extensions accompanied by an actual increase in capacity or to newcomers within the sector if reserves set aside for them are insufficient. The competent authorities shall inform the Commission and obtain authorisation to transfer the allowances.
2008/06/30
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 338 #

2008/0013(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 9
Directive 2003/87/EC
Article 11a – paragraph 1 a (new)
1α. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that CER/ERU credits come from the activities of projects in the Community scheme which strictly comply with not only environmental and social criteria but also additional criteria, in accordance with internationally recognised standards such as the ‘Golden Rule’.
2008/06/30
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 2 #

2007/2257(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Is of the opinion that the EU's environmental goals should not be seen as a threat to industry, but as an opportunity to gain a first mover advantage and make industry in the EU a world leader in environmentally friendly and socially acceptable technologies, products and services; stresses, however, that the application of new technologies should be accompanied by measures to safeguard the international competitiveness of European enterprises; also notes that the mandatory adoption of technologies produced by certain Member States only, which is not consistent with industry's normal investment cycles, may create distortions similar to those which could be created by State aid in the field of the environment;
2008/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 7 #

2007/2257(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Points out that, in the short term, the impact on the international competitiveness of energy intensive EU industries should be taken into consideration immediately in order to avoid carbon leakage and unemployment; urges in this connection the Commission to actively promote and support the setting up of global sectoral agreements that can reduce the environmental impact of specific industries worldwide while ensuring a level playing field;
2008/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 174 #

2007/0249(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The AuthorityBERT shall in particular contribute to the harmonised application of the provisions of the Framework Directive and the Specific Directives by assisting the Commission in the preparation of recommendations or decisions to be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 19 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive). BERT shall be in charge of the monitoring of regulatory compliance through consistent annual key performance indicators (KPIs) which would benchmark performance in particular regarding remaining bottlenecks.
2008/05/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 179 #

2007/0249(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point m
(m) transparency measures for the implementation of unbundling of the local loop, in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive);. These measures shall in particular include targets for the enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 2887/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on unbundled access to the local loop1, such as timescales terms and conditions for the production and delivery of local loops, price and service levels for Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and terms and conditions to information systems guaranteeing equal access to specific information; _____________________ 1 OJ L 336, 30.12.2000. p. 4.
2008/05/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 41 #

2007/0248(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 5
Directive 2002/22/EC
Article 7 – paragraph 1
(1) Member States shall through state subsidies take specific measures for disabled end-users in order to ensure access to and affordability of publicly available telephone service, including access to emergency services, directory enquiry services and directories, equivalent to that enjoyed by other end- users.
2008/04/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 66 #

2007/0248(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 16
Directive 2002/22/EC
Article 26 - paragraph 4
(4) Member States shall ensure that disabled end-users are able to access emergency services in accordance with the provisions of Article 7. In order to ensure that disabled end-users are able to access emergency services while travelling in other Member States, the measures taken may include ensuring compliance with relevant standards or specifications published in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive).
2008/04/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 67 #

2007/0248(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 16
Directive 2002/22/EC
Article 26 - paragraph 5 – first subparagraph
(5) Member States shall ensure that caller location information is made available free of charge to authorities handling emergencies for all calls to the single European emergency call number “112”. The cost of sending this information shall be met in accordance with the respective national provisions concerning national emergency call numbers.
2008/04/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 91 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The current framework introduces technical adjustments of transitory nature in order to ensure a full transition to competition law. Therefore, it should be reviewed as to the necessity of its continuation no later than five years after the date of its entry into force.
2008/05/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 112 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) In its Communication “Bridging the Broadband Gap” of 20 March 2006, the European Commission acknowledged that there is a territorial divide in Europe regarding access to high speed broadband services. Despite the general increase in broadband connectivity, access in various regions is limited because of high costs due to low density of population and remoteness. Commercial incentives to invest in broadband deployment in these areas often turn out to be insufficient. On the positive side, technological innovation is reducing deployment costs. In order to ensure that investment in new technologies in underdeveloped regions is ensured, electronic communications regulation should be consistent with other policy measures taken, such as state aid policy, structural funds or wider industrial policy aims.
2008/05/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 113 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) The activities of national regulatory authorities and of the European Commission within the framework for e- electronic communications contribute to the fulfilment of broader policies in the areas of competitiveness and innovation, culture, employment, the environment, social and regional cohesion and town and country planning.
2008/05/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 160 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 31
(31) It is necessary to strengthen the powers of the Member States vis-à-vis holders of rights of way to ensure the entry or roll out of new network in an environmentally responsible way and independently of any obligation on an operator with significant market power to grant access to its electronic communications network. National regulatory authorities should be able to impose, on a case-by-case basis, the sharing of ducts, masts, and antennas, the entry into buildings and a better coordination of civil works. Improving facility sharing can significantly improve competition and lower the overall financial and environmental cost of deploying electronic communications infrastructure for undertakings. The sharing of ducts should be extended to cover all public infrastructure (e.g. water, sewage, electricity, gas) through which electronic communications infrastructure can be deployed to create a level playing field and improve possibilities for the roll out of alternative infrastructure.
2008/05/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 163 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 32
(32) Reliable and secure communication of information over electronic communications networks is increasingly central to the whole economy and society in general. System complexity, technical failure or human mistake, accidents or attacks may all have consequences for the functioning and availability of the physical infrastructures that deliver important services to EU citizens, including e- Government services. National regulatory authorities should therefore ensure the integrity and security of public communications networks are maintained. The AuthorityENISA should contribute to the enhanced level of security of electronic communications by, among other things, providing expertise and advice, and promoting the exchange of best practices. Both the AuthorityENISA and the national regulatory authorities should have the necessary means to perform their duties, including powers to obtain sufficient information to be able to assess the level of security of networks or services as well as comprehensive and reliable data about actual security incidents that have had a significant impact on the operation of networks or services. Bearing in mind that the successful application of adequate security is not a one-off exercise but a continuous process of implementation, review and updating, the providers of electronic communications networks and services should be required to take measures to safeguard their integrity and security in accordance with the assessed risks, taking into account the state of the art of such measures.
2008/05/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 164 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 33
(33) Where there is a need to agree on a common set of security requirements, power should be conferred on the Commission to adopt technical implementing measures to achieve an adequate level of security of electronic communications networks and services in the internal market. The AuthorityENISA should contribute to the harmonisation of appropriate technical and organisational security measures by providing expert advice. National regulatory authorities should have the power to issue binding instructions relating to the technical implementing measures adopted pursuant to the Framework Directive. In order to perform their duties, they should have the power to investigate and to impose penalties in cases of non-compliance.
2008/05/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 210 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 2 – point c
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 2 – point e
(e) “associated facilities” means those facilities associated with an electronic communications network and/or an electronic communications service which enable and/or support the provision of services via that network and/or service or have the potential to do so, and include number or address translation systems, conditional access systems and electronic programme guides, as well as physical infrastructure such as ducts, including those of other public and private infrastructures such as water, sewage, gas and electricity ducts, masts, street cabinets, and buildings;
2008/05/30
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 257 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 6
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) imposing, amending or withdrawing an obligation on an operator in application of Article 16 in conjunction with Articles 5 and 9 to 13 of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive), and Article 17 of Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive),deleted
2008/05/30
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 276 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 6
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 7 – paragraph 8
8. Where a draft measure has been amended in accordance with paragraph 6, the Commission may take a decision, requiring the national regulatory authority to impose a specific obligation under Articles 9 to 13a of Directive 2002/19/EC (Access Directive), and Article 17 of Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive) within a given time-limit. In so doing, the Commission shall pursue the same policy objectives as set out for national regulatory authorities in Article 8. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion of the Authority submitted in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation […./EC], in particular in elaborating the details of the obligation(s) to be imposed.deleted
2008/05/30
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 511 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 13
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. To ensure that measures taken in accordance with paragraph 1 are proportionate, national regulatory authorities shall investigate the availability of all ducts, including those of telecommunications operators, energy providers, local communities and sewage pipes, capable of carrying telecommunications lines in the area where access is requested.
2008/06/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 526 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 13 a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Where appropriate, the national regulatory authority concerned shall inform the national regulatory authorities in other Member States and the AuthorityENISA. Where disclosure of the breach is in the public interest, the national regulatory authority may inform the public.
2008/06/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 529 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 13 a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Every three monthsyear, the national regulatory authority shall submit a summary report to the Commission and the ENISA on the notifications received and the action taken in accordance with this paragraph.
2008/06/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 537 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 13 a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
4. The Commission, taking the utmost account of the opinion of the Authority issued in accordance with Article 4(3)(b) of Regulation [.../EC]ENISA, may adopt appropriate technical implementing measures with a view to harmonising the measures referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3, including measures defining the circumstances, format and procedures applicable to notification requirements.
2008/06/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 607 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 24 a (new)
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 25
(24a) Article 25 is replaced by the following: "The Commission shall [...] review the functioning of this Directive and report to the European Parliament and the Council no later than five years after the date of its entry into force. In its report, the Commission shall include its reasoning regarding the continued need for regulation or the possibility of its repeal, in the light of developments in the market and with regard to competition. For this purpose, the Commission may request information from the Member States, which shall be supplied without undue delay."
2008/06/10
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 686 #

2007/0247(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – point 9
Directive 2002/19/EC
Article 13a
1. A national regulatory authority may, in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 8(3), impose an obligation on vertically integrated undertakings to place activities related to the wholesale provision of access products in an independently operating business unit. That business unit shall supply access products and services to all undertakings, including other business units within the parent company, on the same timescales, terms and conditions, including with regard to price and service levels, and by means of the same systems and processes. 2. When a national regulatory authority intends to impose an obligation for functional separation, it shall submit a request to the Commission that includes. (a) evidence that the imposition of appropriate obligations amongst those identified in Articles 9-13 to achieve effective competition following a co-ordinated analysis of the relevant markets in accordance with the market analysis procedure set out in Article 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive) has failed and would fail on a persistent basis to achieve effective competition and that there are important and persisting competition problems/market failures identified in several of these product markets. (b) an analysis of the expected impact on the regulatory authority, on the undertaking, and on its incentives to invest in its network, and on other stakeholders including in particular the expected impact on infrastructure competition and any potential entailing effects on consumers; (c) a draft of the measure being proposed. 3. The draft measure shall include the following elements: (a) the precise nature and level of separation, specifying in particular the legal status of the separate business entity; (b) identification of the assets of the separate business entity, and the products or services to be supplied by this entity; (c) the governance arrangements to ensure the independence of the staff employed by the separate business entity, and the corresponding incentive structure; (d) rules for ensuring compliance with the obligations; (e) rules for ensuring transparency of operational procedures, in particular towards other stakeholders; (f) a monitoring programme to ensure compliance, including publication of an annual report. 4. Following the Commission's decision on the draft measure taken in accordance with Article 8(3), the national regulatory authority shall conduct a coordinated analysis of the different markets related to the access network in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive). On the basis of its assessment, the national regulatory authority shall impose, maintain, amend or withdraw obligations, in accordance with Articles 6 and 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive). 5. An undertaking on which functional separation has been imposed may be subject to any of the obligations identified in Articles 9–13 in any specific market where it has been designated as having significant market power in accordance with Article 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), or any other obligations authorised by the Commission pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 8.Article 13a deleted Functional separation
2008/06/10
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 139 #

2007/0199(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005
Article 2 d – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Agency shall monitor the implementation of the 10-year investment plan, the annual work programme and the technical and market codes, and shall include the results of its monitoring activities in its annual report. In case of non-compliance by the transmission system operators with the 10-year investment plan, the annual work programme and the technical and market codes of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas, the Agency shall provide information to the Commission.
2008/04/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 185 #

2007/0199(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005
Article 2 h – paragraph 2
2. Transmission system operators shall promote operational arrangements in order to ensure optimum management of the network, and promote the development of energy exchanges, the allocation of cross- border capacity through implicit auctionsor explicit auctions to be decided in common by the Transmission System Operators involved and the integration of balancing and reserve power mechanisms.
2008/04/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 273 #

2007/0199(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 14 a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005
Article 13 – paragraph 1
(14a) In Article 13, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. The Member States shall ensure that national regulatory authorities established under Article 25 of Directive 2003/55/EC have the competence to effectively ensure compliance with this Regulation by providing them, or other authorities, with the legal competence to issue compliance orders and to impose effective, dissuasive and proportionate penalties. The Member States shall notify those provisions to the Commission by 1. January 2010 at the latest and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them."
2008/04/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 68 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 2 d – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Agency shall monitor the implementation of the 10-year investment plan, the annual work programme and the technical and market codes, and shall include the results of its monitoring activities in its annual report. In case of non-compliance by the transmission system operators with the 10-year investment plan, the annual work programme and the technical and market codes of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, the Agency shall provide information to the Commission.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 101 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 2 h – paragraph 2
2. Transmission system operators shall promote operational arrangements in order to ensure optimum management of the network, and promote the development of energy exchanges, the allocation of cross- border capacity through implicit auctionsor explicit auctions to be decided in common by the Transmission System Operators involved and the integration of balancing and reserve power mechanisms.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 112 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 4 a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 6 – paragraph 1 a (new)
(4a) In Article 6, the following paragraph 1a is inserted: "1a. The regulatory authorities shall monitor congestion management within national electricity systems and interconnectors. Transmission system operators shall submit their congestion management procedures, including capacity allocation, for approval to regulatory authorities. Regulatory authorities may request amendments to these rules before approving them." Or. en (Adds new paragraph 1a to Article 6 of Regulation 1228/2003/EC)
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 125 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 6
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. New direct current interconnectors between Member States may, upon request, be exempted, for a limited period of timeat least 10 years, from the provisions of Article 6(6) of Regulation and Articles 8, 20, and 23(2), (3) and (4) of Directive 2003/54/EC under the following conditions:
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 153 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 8 a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 12 – paragraph 1
(8a) Article 12(1) shall be replaced by the following: 1. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the Member States shall ensure that national regulatory authorities have the competence to effectively ensure compliance with this Regulation by providing them, or other authorities, with the legal competence to issue compliance orders and to impose effective, dissuasive and proportionate penalties. The Member States shall notify those provisions to the Commission by 1. January 2010 at the latest and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them. Or. en (Changes wording of paragraph 1, article 12 of Regulation (EC) 1228/2003)
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 42 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
(8) It is appropriate to provide a framework within which national regulatory authorities are able to cooperate. This framework should facilitate the uniform application of the legislation on the internal market for electricity and gas throughout the Community. As regards situations concerning more than one Member State, the Agency should be granted the power to adopt individual decisions. This power should cover the regulatory regime for infrastructure connecting at least two Member States, and exemptions from the internal market rules for new electricity interconnectors and new gas infrastructures located in more than one Member State.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 134 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Agency may grant exemptions, as provided for in Article 7(4)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003. The Agencyregulatory authorities of the Member States concerned, after consultation between them and approval by the Commission, may also grant exemptions as provided for in Article 22(3)(a) of Directive 2003/55/EC where the infrastructure concerned is located in the territory of more than one Member State.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 169 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The Administrative Board shall, after having consultedwith the assent of the Board of Regulators, appoint the Director in accordance with Article 13(2).
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 177 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 7
7. The Administrative Board shall, in consultation with the Board of Regulators, exercise disciplinary authority over the Director.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 202 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. The European Parliament and the Council may call upon the Chairperson of the Board of Regulators to submit a report on the performance of his duties.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 219 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The Board of Regulators shall deliver an opinionits assent on the candidate to be appointed as Director in accordance with Article 10(1) and Article 13(2). The Board shall reach this decision on the basis of a majority of three quarters of its members.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 256 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 7
7. The Director may be removed from office only upon a decision by the Administrative Board, after consultingwith the assent of the Board of Regulators. The Administrative Board shall reach this decision on the basis of a majority of three quarters of its members.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 69 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 11
(11) Where the undertaking owning a transmission system is part of a vertically integrated undertaking, Member States should therefore be given a choice between ownership unbundling and, as a derogation, setting up system operators which are independent from supply and generation interests, or effective and efficient unbundling which ensures effective separation of the transmission system operator without infringing ownership of network and without causing the sale of either the transmission system or the production of energy. The full effectiveness of the independent system operator solution needs to be assured by way of specific additional rules. To preserve fully the interests of the shareholders of vertically integrated companies, Member States should have the choice of implementing ownership unbundling either by direct divestiture or by splitting the shares of the integrated company into shares of the network company and shares of the remaining supply and generation business, provided that the requirements resulting from ownership unbundling are complied with.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 95 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 19
(19) Energy regulators should have the power to issue binding decisions on gas undertakings and to impose effective, appropriate and dissuasive sanctions on natural gas undertakings which fail to comply with their obligations. They must also be granted the powers to decide, irrespective of the application of competition rules, on any appropriate measures ensuring customer benefits through the promotingon of effective competition necessary for the proper functioning of the market; as well as to ensure high standards of public service in compliance with market opening, the protection of vulnerable customers and that consumer protection measures are fully effective. These provisions should be without prejudice to both the Commission's powers concerning the application of competition rules including the examination of mergers with a Community dimension, and the rules on the internal market, such as the free movement of capital.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 98 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 20
(20) Investments in major new infrastructures should be strongly promoted while ensuring the proper functioning of the internal market in natural gas. In order to enhance the positive effect of exempted infrastructure projects on competition and security of supply, market interest during the project planning phase should be tested and congestion management rules should be implemented. Where an infrastructure is located in the territory of more than one Member State, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators should handle the exemption request in order to take better account of its cross-border implications and to facilitate its administrative handlingexemption decision should be taken by the regulatory authorities or any relevant bodies of the Member States concerned after consultation between them, and approved by the Commission. Moreover, given the exceptional risk profile of constructing these exempt major infrastructure projects it should be possible to temporarily grant partial derogations to supply and production undertakings in respect of the unbundling rules for the projects concerned. This should in particular apply, for security of supply reasons, to new pipelines within the Community transporting gas from third countries into the Community.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 122 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 26
(26) Regulatory authorities should provide information to the market also to permit the Commission to exercise its role of observing and monitoring the European gas market and its short, medium and long term evolution, including aspects such as supply and demand, transmission and distribution infrastructures, cross-border tradequality of service and supply, cross-border trade, congestion management, investments, wholesale and consumers prices, market liquidity, environmental and efficiency improvements.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 130 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 1 – point (–a) (new)
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 2 – point 3
(–a) point 3 shall be replaced by the following: “3. ‘transmission’ means the transport of natural gas through a [...]network containing mainly high pressure pipelines, other than an upstream pipeline network and other than the part of high pressure pipelines primarily used in the context of local distribution of natural gas, with a view to its delivery to customers, but not including supply;"
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 190 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 5b
1. Member States shall cooperate among themselves for the purpose of integrating their national markets at least at the regional level. In particular, Member States shall promote the cooperation of network operators at a regional level, and foster the consistency of their legal and regulatory framework. The geographical2. When the cooperation between several Member States at a regional level encounters significant difficulties, following the joint request of these Member States, the Commission may designate, in agreaement with all Member States covncerned by, a regional cooperations shall be in line with the definition of geographical areas by the Commission in accordance with Article 2h(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005. rdinator. 3. The regional coordinator shall promote at regional level the cooperation of national regulatory authorities and other competent public authorities, network operators, gas exchanges, grid users and market parties. In particular, the regional coordinator shall : (a) promote new efficient investments in interconnections. To this end, the regional coordinator shall assist transmission system operators in drawing up their regional interconnection plan and shall contribute to the coordination of their investments decisions and, where appropriate, of their open season procedure; (b) promote the efficient and safe use of the networks. To this end, the regional coordinator shall contribute to the coordination between transmission system operators, national regulatory authorities and other competent national public authorities in drawing up their common allocation and common safeguard mechanisms; (c) submit an annual report to the Commission and Member States concerned on the progress achieved in the region and on any difficulty or obstacle that may hinder such progress.
2008/04/10
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 199 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 7 – paragraph –1 (new)
"–1. In order to ensure the independence of transmission system operators, Member States shall ensure that, as from [date of transposition plus one year], vertically integrated undertakings must comply with the provisions of Article 7(1)(a) to (d) or Article 9 or Article 9b."
2008/04/10
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 238 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 6 c (new)
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 8 – paragraphs 4 a to 4 h (new)
(6c) In Article 8, the following paragraphs shall be added: "4a. Transmission system operators shall draw up a 10-year network development plan at least every two years. They shall take efficient measures to guarantee system adequacy and security of supply. 4b. The 10-year network development plan shall in particular: a) indicate to market participants the main transmission infrastructures that ought to be built over the next ten years; b) contain all the investments already decided upon and identify new investments for which an implementation decision has to be taken in the next three years. 4c. In order to draw up this 10-year network development plan, each transmission system operator shall make a hypothesis about the evolution of generation, consumption and exchanges with other countries, and shall take into account regional and European-wide existing network investment plans. Transmission system operator shall submit in due time the draft of this plan to the competent national body. 4d. The competent national body shall consult the draft with all relevant network users in an open and transparent way, and may publish the result of such consultation, in particular possible investment need. 4e. The competent national body shall examine whether the draft 10-year network development plan covers all investment needs identified during the consultation. The competent national body may require the transmission system operator to amend this plan. 4f. The competent national body within the meaning of paragraphs 4c, 4d and 4e, may be the national regulatory authority, any other competent national public authority or a network development trustee established by transmission system operators. In the latter case, transmission system operators shall submit the drafts of their statutes, a list of their members and their rules of procedure to the competent national public authority for its approval. 4g. If the transmission system operator fails to implement a specific investment listed in the 10-year network development plan within the subsequent three years, Members States shall ensure that the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority has the necessary powers to take one of the following measures: a) to request, by all legal means, the transmission system operator to fulfil its investment obligations using its financial capacities, or, b) to invite independent investors to tender for the necessary investment in a transmission system and at the same time may oblige the transmission system operator: – to agree to financing by any third party, – to agree to building by any third party or to build the respective new assets and – to operate the respective new asset. The relevant financial arrangements shall be subject to the approval of the national regulatory authority or any other competent national authority. In both cases, tariff regulation shall allow for revenues that cover the costs of such investments. 4h. The competent national public authority shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of the investment plan.
2008/04/10
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 240 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 6 d (new)
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 8 a (new)
(6d) The following Article shall be inserted: "Article 8a Effective and efficient unbundling of transmission systems I. Assets, equipment, staff and identity 1. Transmission system operators shall be equipped with all human, physical and financial resources of the vertically integrated undertaking necessary for the regular business of gas transmission, in particular: (i) transmission system operators shall own assets necessary for the regular business of gas transmission; (ii) transmission system operators shall employ the staff necessary for the regular business of gas transmission; (iii) the sharing of the staff and the provision of services between branches of a vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply shall be limited to cases where there is no possibility of discrimination and shall be subject to approval by national regulatory authorities in order to exclude competition concerns and conflicts of interest; (iv) appropriate financial resources for future investment projects shall be made available in due time. 2. The activities deemed necessary for the regular business of gas transmission mentioned in paragraph 1 shall include at least the following: – representation of the transmission system operator and contacts with third parties and national regulatory authorities, – granting and managing third party access to the network, – collection of access charges, congestion rents and payments under the inter transmission system operator compensation mechanism, in compliance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003, – operation, maintenance and development of the transmission system, – investment planning ensuring the long- term ability of the system to meet reasonable demand and guaranteeing security of supply, – legal services, – accountancy and IT services. 3. Transmission system operators shall have the legal form of a joint-stock company. 4. The transmission system operator shall have its own corporate identity, significantly different from the vertically integrated undertaking, with separate branding, communication and premises. 5. Transmission system operators' accounts shall be audited by an auditor other than the person auditing the vertically integrated undertaking and all its affiliated companies. II. Independence of the transmission system operator's management, chief executive officer / executive board 6. Decisions on the appointment and on any early termination of the employment of the chief executive officer or members of the executive board of the transmission system operator and decisions on the conclusion or early termination of the employment contracts with these persons shall be notified to the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority. These decisions and agreements may become binding only if, within a period of 3 weeks following the notification, the regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority has not used its right of veto. A veto may be used if an appointment and the conclusion of the relevant agreement poses serious doubts as to the professional independence of the nominated chief executive officer or a member of the executive board; in the case of early terminations of employment and of respective agreements with these persons, the right of veto may be used only if serious doubts exist regarding the basis and justification of such termination. 7. Right of appeal to the national regulatory authority or another competent national public authority or to a court shall be guaranteed to the management of the transmission system operator in the event of early terminations of their employment. 8. After termination of employment in the transmission system operator, the chief executive officers / members of the executive board shall not participate in any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply for a period of not less than 3 years. 9. The chief executive officer / members of the executive board shall not hold any interest in or receive any compensation from any undertaking of the vertically integrated company other than the transmission system operator. Remuneration of the chief executive officer / members of the executive board shall in no part depend on activities of the vertically integrated undertaking other than those of the transmission system operator. 10. The chief executive officer or the members of the executive board of the transmission system operator may not be responsible, directly or indirectly, for the day-to-day operation of any other branch of the vertically integrated undertaking. 11. Without prejudice to the provisions above, the transmission system operator shall have effective decision-making rights, independent from the integrated gas undertaking, with respect to assets necessary to operate, maintain or develop the network. This should not prevent the existence of appropriate coordination mechanisms to ensure that the economic and management supervision rights of the parent company in respect of return on assets, regulated indirectly in accordance with Article 24c, in a subsidiary are protected. In particular, this shall enable the parent company to approve the annual financial plan, or any equivalent instrument, of the transmission system operator and to set global limits on the levels of indebtedness of its subsidiary. It shall not permit the parent company to give instructions regarding day-to-day operations, nor with respect to individual decisions concerning the construction or upgrading of transmission lines, that do not exceed the terms of the approved financial plan, or any equivalent instrument. III. Supervisory board / Board of directors 12. Chairmen of the supervisory board/board of directors of the transmission system operator shall not participate in any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply. 13. The supervisory boards / boards of directors of transmission system operators shall also include independent members, appointed for a term of at least 5 years. Appointment of the members of the supervisory board / board of directors shall be notified to the national regulatory authority/ or any other competent national public authority and become binding under the conditions described in paragraph 6. 14. For the purpose of paragraph 13, a member of the supervisory board / board of directors of a transmission system operator shall be deemed independent if he/she does not participate in any business with, or is no other relationship with the vertically integrated undertaking, its controlling shareholders or the management of either, that would create a conflict of interest, in particular: (a) has not been an employee of any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation and supply in five years prior to the appointment as a member of the supervisory board / board of directors; (b) does not hold any interest in, and does not receive any compensation from, the vertically integrated undertaking or any of its affiliates except the transmission system operator; (c) does not have any relevant business relationship with any branch of the vertically integrated company performing functions of energy supply during his/her appointment as a member of the supervisory board / board of directors; (d) is not a member of the executive board of a company in which the vertically integrated undertaking appoints members of the supervisory board / board of directors. IV. Compliance officer 15. Member States shall ensure that transmission system operators establish and implement a compliance programme which sets out measures to be taken to ensure that discriminatory conduct is excluded. The programme shall also set out the specific obligations of employees of the transmission system operators to meet this objective. The programme shall be subject to the approval of the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority. Compliance of the program shall be independently monitored by the compliance officer. The national regulatory authority shall have the power to impose sanctions in case of inappropriate implementation of the compliance program by the transmission system operator. 16. The chief executive officer / executive board of the transmission system operator shall appoint a person or a body in a function of a compliance officer who shall be responsible for: (i) monitoring the implementation of the compliance programme; (ii) preparing an annual report, setting out the measures to be taken in order to implement the compliance programme and submitting it to the national regulatory authority; (iii) issuing recommendations regarding the compliance programme and its implementation. 17. The independence of the compliance officer shall be guaranteed in particular by the terms of the relevant employment contract. 18. The compliance officer shall have the opportunity to regularly address the supervisory board/board of directors of the transmission system operator, of the vertically integrated undertaking and the national regulatory authorities. 19. The compliance officer shall attend all meetings of the supervisory board / board of directors of the transmission system operator that address the following areas: (i) conditions for access and connection to the system, including the collection of access charges, congestion rents, and payments under the inter transmission system operator compensation mechanism in compliance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003; (ii) projects undertaken in order to operate, maintain and develop the transmission grid system, including interconnection and connection investments; (iii) energy purchases in order to cover energy losses. 20. During these meetings, the compliance officer shall prevent information about generators or suppliers activities which may be commercially advantageous from being disclosed in a discriminatory manner to the supervisory board/board of directors. 21. The compliance officer shall have access to all relevant books, records and offices of the transmission system operator and to all the necessary information for the fulfilment of the tasks. The compliance officer shall be nominated and removed by the chief executive officer / executive board only after prior approval by the national regulatory authority."
2008/04/10
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 322 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 13
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. The regulatory authority referred to in Chapter VIa may, on a case by case basis, decide on the exemptions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. Where the infrastructure in question is located in the territory of more than one Member State, the Agency shall exercise the taskexemption decision shall be taken by the national regulatory authorities or any other competent bodies of the Member States confcerrned on the regulatory authority by the preafter consultation between them, and approved by the Commission, according to the procedure sent Articleout in paragraphs 4 and 5.
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 376 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24b – point (f)
(f) ensuring customer benefits through the efficient functioning of their national market, and tohe promoteion of effective competition in cooperation with competition authorities.
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 407 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24c – paragraph 1 – point (l)
(l) without prejudice to the competence of other national regulatory authorities, ensumonitoring high standards of public service for natural gas, and the protection of vulnerable customers, and that consumer protection measures set out in Annex A are effective;
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 414 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24c – paragraph 1 – point (l a) (new)
"(la) ensuring that consumer protection measures set out in Annex A are effective and enforced;"
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 457 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24c – paragraph 4 – point (a)
(a) connection and access to national networks, including transmission and distribution tariffs, and terms, conditions and and methodologies for their calculation, or alternatively, the methodologies and their monitoring for setting or approving the transmission and distribution tariffs, and terms, conditions and tariffs for access to LNG facilities, including methodologies for their calculation, or alternatively, the methodologies and their monitoring for setting or approving the tariffs for access to LNG facilities. These tariffs shall allow the necessary investments in the networks and LNG facilities to be carried out in a manner allowing these investments to ensure the viability of the networks and LNG facilities;
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 472 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24c – paragraph 5 a (new)
"5a. The national regulatory authorities shall monitor congestion management within national electricity systems and interconnectors. Transmission system operators shall submit their congestion management procedures, including capacity allocation, for approval to national regulatory authorities. National regulatory authorities may request transmission system operators to modify these rules before approving them."
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 531 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 16 b (new)
Directive 2003/55/EC
Annex A – point (a) – indent 2
(16b) In Annex A, second indent of point (a) shall be replaced by the following: "- the services provided, the level of commercial and technical quality of services offered, as well as the time for service activation;"
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 546 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 17
Directive 2003/55/EC
Annex A – point (j)
(j) canmay change supplier at any time in the year, and awith the process lasting no more than one month from the moment all the requisite information is provided and the contract between the customer and the new supplier entered into force, to the actual date of the switch. A customer's account with the previous supplier shall not be settled later than one month following the last supply by this previous supplier.
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 119 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 11
(11) Where the undertaking owning a transmission system is part of a vertically integrated undertaking, Member States should therefore be given a choice between either ownership unbundling and, as a derogation,, or setting up system operators which are independent from supply and generation interests, or effective and efficient unbundling which ensures effective separation of the transmission system operator without infringing ownership of network and without causing the sale of either the transmission system or the production of energy. The full effectiveness of the independent system operator solution needs to be assured by way of specific additional rules. To preserve fully the interests of the shareholders of vertically integrated companies, Member States should have the choice of implementing ownership unbundling either by direct divestiture or by splitting the shares of the integrated company into shares of the network company and shares of the remaining supply and generation business, provided that the requirements resulting from ownership unbundling are complied with.
2008/03/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 136 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 18
(18) Energy regulators should have the power to issue binding decisions on electricity undertakings and to impose effective, appropriate and dissuasive sanctions on electricity undertakings which fail to comply with their obligations. They must also be granted the powers to decide, irrespective of the application of competition rules, on any appropriate measures ensuring customer benefits through the promotingon of effective competition necessary for the proper functioning of the market; as well as ensure high standards of universal and public service in compliance with market opening, the protection of vulnerable customers, and that consumer protection measures are fully effective. These provisions should be without prejudice to both the Commission's powers concerning the application of competition rules including the examination of mergers with a Community dimension, and the rules on the internal market such as the free movement of capital.
2008/03/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 152 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 23
(23) Regulatory authorities should provide information to the market also to permit the Commission to exercise its role of observing and monitoring the European electricity market and its short, medium and long term evolution, including aspects such as generation capacity, different sources of electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructures, cross-border tradequality of service and supply, cross-border trade, congestion management, the investments, wholesale and consumers prices, market liquidity, environmental and efficiency improvements.
2008/03/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 197 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 5a
1. Member States shall cooperate among themselves for the purpose of integrating their national markets at least at the regional level. In particular, Member States shall promote the cooperation of network operators at a regional level, and foster the consistency of their legal and regulatory framework. The geographical area covered by regional cooperations shall be in line with the definition of geographical areas b1a. When the cooperation between several Member States at a regional level encounters significant difficulties, following the joint request of these Member States the Commission may designate, in agreement with all Member States concerned, a regional coordinator. 1b. The regional coordinator shall promote at a regional level the cooperation of national regulatory authorities and any othe Commission in accordance with Article 2h(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003 on conditions fr competent public authorities, network operators, power exchanges, grid users and market parties. In particular, the regional coordinator shall: (a) promote new efficient investments in interconnections. To this end, the regional coordinator shall assist transmission system operators at drawing up of their regional interconnection plan and contribute to the coordination of their investments decisions and, where appropriate, of their open season procedure; (b) promote the efficient and safe use of the networks. To this end, the regional coordinator shall contribute to the coordination between transmission system operators, national regulatory access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity." uthorities and other competent national public authorities with the preparation of common allocation and common safeguard mechanisms; (c) annually submit a report to the Commission and Member States concerned on the progress achieved in the region and on any difficulty or obstacle that may hinder such a progress.
2008/03/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 224 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 3 h (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 7 a (new)
(3h) The following Article shall be inserted: "Article 7a In order to ensure the independence of transmission system operators, Member States shall ensure that as from [date of transposition plus one year] vertically integrated undertakings have to comply either with Article 8(1), points (a) to (d), or with Article 10 or with the provisions of Article 8ba." Or. en (Adding a new Article 7a to Directive 2003/54/EC)
2008/03/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 269 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 5 a (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 8b a (new)
(5a) The following Article shall be inserted: "Article 8ba Effective and efficient unbundling of transmission systems I. Assets, equipment, staff and identity Transmission system operators shall be equipped with all human, physical and financial resources of the vertically integrated undertaking necessary for the regular business of electricity transmission, in particular: (a) transmission system operator shall own assets that are necessary for the regular business of electricity; (b) transmission system operator shall employ personnel necessary for the regular business of electricity transmission; (c) leasing of personnel and rendering of services, from and to any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply, shall be limited to cases with no discriminatory potential and be subject to approval by national regulatory authorities in order to exclude competition concerns and conflicts of interest; (d) appropriate financial resources for future investment projects shall be available in due time. 2. The activities deemed necessary for the regular business of electricity transmission mentioned in paragraph 1 shall at least include : (a) representation of the transmission system operator and contacts with third parties and national regulatory authorities; (b) granting and managing third party access to the grid; (c) collection of the access charges, congestion rents and payments under the inter transmission system operator compensation mechanism in compliance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 1228/2003; (d) operation, maintenance and development of the transmission system; (e) investment planning ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demand and guaranteeing security of supply; (f) legal services; (g) accountancy and IT services. 3. Transmission system operators shall have a legal form of a joint-stock company. 4. The transmission system operator shall have its own corporate identity, significantly different from the vertically integrated undertaking with separate branding, communication and premises. 5. Transmission system operators´ accounts shall be audited by another auditor than the one auditing the vertically integrated undertaking and all its affiliated companies. II. Independence of the transmission system operator management, chief executive officer / executive board 6. Decisions on the appointment and on any early termination of the employment of the chief executive officer / members of the executive board of the transmission system operator and the conclusion or early termination of respective employment contracts with these persons shall be notified to the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority. These decisions and agreements may become binding only if, within a period of 3 weeks after the notification, the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority has not used it's right of veto. A veto may be used in the case of appointment and conclusion of respective contractual agreements if serious doubts arise as to the professional independence of the nominated chief executive officer / member of the executive board; in the case of early termination of employment and respective employment contracts with the chief executive officer / member of the executive board, the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority may use its right of veto if serious doubts exist regarding the basis and justification for such termination. 7. Right of appeal to the regulatory authority or another competent national public authority or to a court shall be guaranteed to the chief executive office or the member of the executive board of the transmission system operator in case of early terminations of their employment. 8. After termination of employment in the transmission system operator, chief executive officers / members of the executive board shall not participate in any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply for a period of not less than 3 years. 9. The chief executive officer / members of the executive board shall not hold any interest in or receive any compensation from any undertaking of the vertically integrated company other than the transmission system operator. His/their remuneration shall in no part depend on activities of the vertically integrated undertaking other than those of the transmission system operator. 10. The chief executive officer or the members of the executive board of the transmission system operator may not bear responsibility, directly or indirectly, for the day-to-day operation of any other branch of the vertically integrated undertaking. 11. Without prejudice to the provisions above, the transmission system operator shall have effective decision-making rights, independent from the integrated electricity undertaking, with respect to assets necessary to operate, maintain or develop the network. This should not prevent the existence of appropriate coordination mechanisms to ensure that the economic and management supervision rights of the parent company in respect of return on assets, regulated indirectly in accordance with Article 22c, in a subsidiary are protected. In particular, this shall enable the parent company to approve the annual financial plan, or any equivalent instrument, of the transmission system operator and to set global limits on the levels of indebtedness of its subsidiary. It shall not permit the parent company to give instructions regarding day-to-day operations, nor with respect to individual decisions concerning the construction or upgrading of transmission lines, that do not exceed the terms of the approved financial plan, or any equivalent instrument. III. Supervisory board / Board of directors 12. Chairmen of the supervisory board/board of directors of the transmission system operator shall not participate in any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply. 13. The supervisory boards / boards of directors of transmission system operator shall include also independent members, appointed for a term of at least 5 years. Their appointment shall be notified to the national regulatory authority/ or any other competent national public authority and become binding under the conditions described in paragraph 6. 14. For the purpose of paragraph 13, a member of the supervisory board / board of directors of a transmission system operator shall be deemed independent if he is free of any business, or other relationship with the vertically integrated undertaking, its controlling shareholders or the management of either, that creates a conflict of interest, in particular: (a) has not been an employee of any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation and supply in five years prior to their appointment as a member supervisory board / board of directors; (b) does not hold any interest in and does not receive any compensation from the vertically integrated undertaking or any of its affiliates except the transmission system operator; (c) does not hold any relevant business relationship with any branch of the vertically integrated company performing functions of energy supply during his/her appointment as a member supervisory board / board of directors; (d) is not a member of the executive board of a company in which the vertically integrated undertaking appoints members of the supervisory board / board of directors. IV. Compliance officer 15. Member States shall ensure that transmission system operators establish and implement a compliance programme which sets out measures to be taken to ensure that discriminatory conduct is excluded. The programme shall also set out specific obligations of employees of the transmission system operator to meet this objective. The programme shall be subject to approval of the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority. Compliance of the program shall be independently monitored by the compliance officer. The national regulatory authority shall have the power to impose sanctions in case of inappropriate implementation of the compliance program by the transmission system operator. 16. The chief executive officer / executive board of the transmission system operator shall appoint a person or a body in a function of a compliance officer who shall be responsible for : (a) monitoring the implementation of the compliance programme; (b) elaborating an annual report, setting out the measures taken in order to implement the compliance programme and submitting it to the national regulatory authority; (c) issuing recommendations on the compliance programme and its implementation. 17. The independence of the compliance officer shall be guaranteed in particular by the terms of his/her employment contract 18. The compliance officer shall have the opportunity to regularly address the supervisory board/board of directors of the transmission system operator and of the vertically integrated undertaking and the national regulatory authorities. 19. The compliance officer shall participate at all meetings of the supervisory board / board of directors of the transmission system operator that address the following issues: (a) conditions for access and connection to the grid, including the collection of access charges, congestion rents, and payments under the inter transmission system operator compensation mechanism in compliance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003; (b) projects undertaken in order to operate, maintain and develop the transmission grid system, including interconnection and connection investments; (c) balancing rules, including reserve power rules; (d) energy purchases in order to cover energy losses. 20. During these meetings, the compliance officer shall prevent information about generation or supply activities which may be commercially advantageous from being disclosed in a discriminatory manner to the supervisory board/board of directors. 21. The compliance officer shall have access to all relevant books, records and offices of the transmission system operator and to all necessary information for the proper fulfilment of the tasks. 22. The compliance officer shall be nominated and removed by the chief executive officer / executive board only after prior approval by the national regulatory authority."
2008/04/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 282 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 6 g (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 9 –paragraphs 1a to 1 k (new)
(6g) In Article 9, the following paragraphs shall be inserted: "Transmission system operators shall elaborate a 10-year network development plan at least every two years. They shall provide efficient measures in order to guarantee system adequacy and security of supply. The 10-year network development plan shall in particular : a) indicate to market participants the main transmission infrastructures that ought to be built over the next ten years, b) contain all the investments already decided and identify new investments for which an implementation decision has to be taken in the next three years. In order to elaborate this 10-year network development plan, each transmission system operator shall make reasonable hypothesis about the evolution of generation, consumption and exchanges with other countries, and shall take into account regional and European-wide existing network investment plans. Transmission system operators shall submit in due time the draft of this plan to the competent national body. The competent national body shall consult all relevant network users on the basis of such draft in an open and transparent manner and may publish the result of the consultation process, in particular possible needs for investments. The competent national body shall examine whether the draft 10-year network development plan covers all investment needs identified in the consultation. The competent national body may oblige the transmission system operator to amend its draft of the plan. Competent national body may be the national regulatory authority, any other competent national public authority or a network development trustee constituted by transmission system operators. In the latter case, transmission system operators shall submit the drafts of the statutes, the list of members and of the rules of procedure to the approval of the competent national public authority. If the transmission system operator rejects to implement a specific investment listed in the 10-year network development plan to be executed in the next three years, Members States shall ensure that the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority have the competence to take one of the following measures: a) request by all legal means the transmission system operator to execute its investment obligations by using its financial capacities or, b) invite independent investors to participate in a tender for necessary investment in a transmission system and may at the same time oblige the transmission system operator: (i) to agree to financing by any third party, (ii) to agree to building by any third party or to build the respective new assets and (iii) to operate the respective new asset. The relevant financial arrangements shall be subject to the approval of the national regulatory authority or any other competent national public authority. In both cases, tariff regulation shall allow for revenues that cover the costs of such investments. Competent national public authority shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of the investment plan. Transmission system operators shall be obliged to establish and publish transparent and efficient procedures for non-discriminatory connection of new power plants to the grid. Those procedures shall be subject to the approval of national regulatory authorities or any other competent national public authority Transmission system operators shall not be entitled to refuse the connection of a new power plant on the grounds of possible future limitations to available network capacities, e.g. congestion in distant parts of the transmission grid. The transmission system operator shall be obliged to supply necessary information. Transmission system operators shall not be entitled to refuse a new connection point on the sole ground that it will lead to additional costs linked with necessary capacity increase of grid elements in the close-up range to the connection point."
2008/04/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 373 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 22b – point (f)
(f) ensuring customer benefits through the efficient functioning of their national market, and tohe promoteion of effective competition in cooperation with competition authorities.
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 412 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 22c – paragraph 1 – point (k)
(k) without prejudice to the competence of other national regulatory authorities, ensumonitoring high standards of universal and public service for electricity, and the protection of vulnerable customers, and that consumer protection measures set out in Annex A are effective;
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 419 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 22c – paragraph 1 – point (k a) (new)
(ka) ensuring that consumer protection measures set out in Annex A are effective and enforced.
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 482 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 22c – paragraph 5 a (new)
"5a. The regulatory authorities shall monitor congestion management within national electricity systems and interconnectors. Transmission system operators shall submit their congestion management procedures, including capacity allocation, to the national regulatory authorities for approval. National regulatory authorities may request amendments to these procedures before approving them."
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 547 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14 c (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Annex A – point (a) – indent 2
(14c) In Annex A, point (a), indent 2 shall be replaced by the following: "- the services provided, the level of commercial and technical quality of services offered, as well as the time for service activation;" Or. en (Changes wording of Annex A, paragraph (a), indent 2 of Directive 2003/54/EC)
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 565 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 15
Directive 2003/54/EC
Annex A – point (j)
(j) canmay change supplier at any time in the year, and awith the process lasting no more than one month from the moment all the requisite information is provided and the contract between the customer and the new supplier is enters into force, to the actual date of the switch. A customer's account with the previous supplier shall not be settled later than one month following the last supply by this previous supplier.
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE