Activities of Rovana PLUMB related to 2020/0006(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Just Transition Fund (debate)
Amendments (46)
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair and socially acceptable for all. A just climate and energy transition must not leave anyone behind and should create conditions to eradicate energy poverty. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and social implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences. The Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy. Тhe transfer mechanism shall be flexible, in order to allow Member States to assess the best way to allocate resources.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The regulatory framework governing the Union’s cohesion policy for the period from 2021 to 2027, in the context of the next multi-annual financial framework, contributes to the fulfilment of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating Union funding on green objectives. This Regulation implements one of the priorities set out in the Communication on the European Green Deal (‘the European Green Deal’)11 and is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan12 providing dedicated financing under the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to address the economic and social costhallenges of the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy by 2050 at the latest, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptions. _________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) In order to set out an appropriate financial framework for the JTF and to ensure a level playing field, reducing the off-shoring of production and additional funds to deploy policies restricting the emissions the Commission shall introduce a carbon border tax mechanism as an EU own resources.
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To protect citizens who are most vulnerable to the climate transition, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers and self- employed persons whose activity has affected as a result of significant structural changes, with the aim of helping them to adapt to new employment opportunities, as well as providing job- search assistance to jobseekers and their active inclusion into the labour market.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair, inclusive and socially acceptable for all, reduce inequalities and leave no one behind. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and social implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences. The Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Joint distribution of funds should be carried out following the principle of "priority regions with high carbon intensity", which includes cumulative those that rely heavily on coal (and coal plants) and GDP per capita below the EU average.
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The territorial just transition plans are to be submitted as soon as possible but not later than one year after the entry into force of this Regulation. That poses an implementation challenge for managing authorities and for the Member States, as the adoption of these plans is necessary to release the funding. Conditional pre- financing for technical assistance should, therefore, be made available before the adoption of the plans in order to alleviate this challenge.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) In view of the importance of implementing the "Clean Energy for all European package" which plays a key role in the European Union's transition towards a climate neutral economy and in completing the Energy Union, JTF will play an important role in the reconversion of former mine sites to renewable energy generation. This can reduce decommissioning costs, contribute to energy security and provide economic value and jobs to post-mining communities. The development of such projects benefits from the existence of infra-structure and extensive land availability; solutions need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis to ensure suitability to the local conditions. Close cooperation between companies, regulators, investors, land-use planners and local communities is essential to identify the most sustainable uses and maximize social-economic development.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to facilitate and alleviate the impact of the transition by creating new sustainable employment opportunities, by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment and adverse social consequences and by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The resources from the Just Transition Fund cannot deliver the transition to climate neutrality on its own. The other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism will offer an additional set of measures and financing opportunities, next to the JTF, with the objective of facilitating and accelerating the transition of the most affected regions. A dedicated just transition scheme under InvestEU will attract private investments that benefit the regions in transition and help their economies find new sources of growth such as projects for decarbonisation, economic diversification of the regions, energy, transport and social infrastructure. Public sector loan facility with the European Investment Bank backed by the EU budget will be used for concessional loans to the public sector, for example for investments in energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, and renovation or insulation of buildings.
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy as well as national and regional investments, private capital and should by no means replace such investments.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a climate-neutral economy is a challenge for all Member States. It will be particularly demanding for those Member States that but also an enormous opportunity. Additional support will be needed for the regions that still rely heavily on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities which need to be phased out or which need to adapt due to the transition towards climate neutrality and that lack the financial means to do so. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States, but the distribution of its financial means should reflect the capacity of Member States to finance the necessary investments to cope with the transition towards climate neutrality.
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
(h) upskilling and reskilling of workers and self-employed persons;
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j
(j) active inclusion of jobseekers;, including income support for transitioning workers and mobility grants for workers who need to move for a new job
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) Effective implementation of JTF and JTM depends not only on the JTF regulation as such but also on the state aid regime that limits the aid intensity in regions. General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) must foresee higher aid intensity and other possible measures to allow public investments in Just Transition regions.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j a (new)
(ja) any other specific activities, as agreed between the relevant local, regional and national authorities for the territory concerned, the Member State and the European Commission, that are in line with local or regional development strategies and contribute to the transition towards a carbon-neutral EU economy by 2050;
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Supported activities must meet the following criteria: - Contribution of job creation activities; - Contribution to reducing CO2 emissions; - Contributing to security of supply (eg if it is necessary to replace the phased interrupted power for electricity); -Contribution to the circular economy, air quality, rehabilitation of sites, upgrading and retraining of workers and/or self- employed persons.
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) The planned revision of State Aid rules should aim at reinforcing and simplifying the investment capacity in sustainable solutions and concrete tools for national, regional and local authorities whose role will be instrumental in an effective and innovative implementation of the Just Transition Fund;
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate, social and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the medium and long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy. _________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
By way of derogation from Article 5 (d) and following the approval by the commission, the investments related to production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of natural gas shall be supported by JTF under the following cumulative conditions: - The investments are retrofitting and/or replacing existing more carbon-intensive infrastructure; - The supported infrastructure is synergistic with renewable and other carbon-neutral energy production capacity. The derogation shall only be used and granted for the purposes of the transition period until 2050.
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the JTF should provide support to productive investment inwith job creation potential in green and sustainable SMEs. Productive investment should be understood as investment in fixed capital or immaterial assets of enterprises in view of producing goods and services thereby contributing to gross- capital formation and employment. For enterprises other than SMEs, productive investments should only be supported if they are necessary for mitigating job losses resulting from the transition, by creating or protecting a significant number of jobs and they do not lead to or result from relocation. Investments in existing industrial facilities, including those covered by the Union Emissions Trading System, should be allowed if they contribute to the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 and go substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 and if they result in the protection of a significant number of jobs. Any such investment should be justified accordingly in the relevant territorial just transition plan. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market and cohesion policy, support to undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU and, in particular, support to productive investments by enterprises other than SMEs should be limited to enterprises located in areas designated as assisted areas for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) TFEU. _________________ 14Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) a clear commitment in line with the objective of achieving a climate- neutral EU by 2050 and reaching its reduction targets by 2030;
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective and measurable implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with and possibly going beyond their National Energy and Climate Plans. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors.
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall exclusively support the following activities:
Amendment 272 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, storage, energy efficiency and renewable energy, including alternative fuels infrastructure;
Amendment 283 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 7.5 billion in 2018 prices, which may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act. The funding of the JTF shall not be to the detriment of resources allocated to the other MFF funds.
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act settingis empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 10 to set out the annual breakdown of resources, including any additional resources referred to in paragraph 2, by Member State in accordance with the methodology set out in Annex I.
Amendment 305 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) investments in activities related to medical products, equipment and devices;
Amendment 313 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) productive and sustainable investments in SMEs, including start-ups, leading to sustainable job creation, economic diversification and reconversion;
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in green infrastructure, regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing projects;
Amendment 333 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h a (new)
(ha) developing social infrastructure needed to support the access to labour market, social inclusion and active health ageing;
Amendment 339 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) investments in sustainable research and innovation activities and fostering the transfer of advanced sustainable zero- emission technologies;
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j
(j) active inclusion of jobseekers and early retirement support;;
Amendment 366 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of fossil fuels with the exception of investments aimed at switching from coal-fired power plants to small flexible gas power plants to ensure the transition to climate neutrality;
Amendment 369 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) targeted energy efficiency measures to address energy poverty;
Amendment 393 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing projects, while ensuring appropriate application of the polluter pays principle;
Amendment 406 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
(g) investments in enhancing the non- toxic circular economy, including through waste prevention, reduction, resource efficiency, reuse, repair and recycling;
Amendment 423 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
(h) upskilling and reskilling of workers, including self-employed, regardless of the sector;
Amendment 445 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j
(j) synergies and complementarities with other Union programmes, funds and pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism to address identified development needs.
Amendment 486 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage, transport or combustion of fossil fuels;
Amendment 592 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
Amendment 620 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to Article 3(3) and in Article 8(4) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [the date of the entry into force of this Regulation].
Amendment 622 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 3(3) and Article 8(4) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
Amendment 624 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State and conduct stakeholder consultation in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.
Amendment 627 #
6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 3(3) and Article 8(4) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.