641 Amendments of Anni PODIMATA
Amendment 60 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Troika together with the Member State concerned is also responsible for the preparation of formal decisions of the EurogroupEurogroup formal decisions are based on the programmes agreed between the Troika and the Member State concerned;
Amendment 133 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the programmes were in the short run primarily meant to avoid a disorderly default and stop speculation on sovereign debt; whereas the medium and long term aim wais to ensure that the money that was lent would be reimbursed, thus avoiding a large financial loss that would rest on the shoulders of the taxpayers of the countries which are providing the assistance and guaranteeing the funds; whereas this also requires the programme to deliver sustainable growth and effective debt reduction in the medium and long term; whereas the programmes were not suited to comprehensively correctingachieve sustainable growth, fiscal sustainability and effective debt reduction in order to secure the return to normal market financing and repayment of financial assistance; whereas the programmes included also structural reforms to correct a number of macroeconomic imbalances which had accumulated sometimes over decades;
Amendment 189 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, prior to the beginning of the EU-IMF assistance programme initiated in the spring of 2010, there was a dual fear associated with the ‘insolvency’ and ’non- sustainability’ of the public finances of Greece as a result of the constantly declining competitiveness of the Greek economy and decades of imprudent fiscal policy, with the government deficit reaching 15.7% of GDP in 2009, and the debt-to-GDP ratio continuing on an upward trend since 2003 when it stood at 97.48.3%, reaching 129.7% in 2009 and 156.9% in 2012;
Amendment 335 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Deplores that recommendations contained in MoUs mark a departure from the thinking initiated by the Lisbon strategy and the Europe 2020 strategies); points out however that this can be partly explained, even if not fully justified, by the fact that programmes had to be implemented under considerable time pressure in a difficult political environment;
Amendment 421 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the end of the programme for Ireland and the expected end of the programme for Portugal; regrets the lack of progress in Greece despite unprecedented reforms having been undertakenwelcomes the unprecedented fiscal adjustment and correction of current account deficit in Greece and underlines that reforms have to continue and to be implemented more decisively and with stronger ownership;
Amendment 448 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines that adequate economic models are necessary in order to produce credible and efficient adjustment programmes; deplores that adequate statistics and information were not always available; points out that in Greece large- scale fraud was happening in this respect in the years preceding the setting up ofthere have been many incidents of misreporting of statistics and mismanagement of the statistical system in the years preceding the programme; welcomes the decisive action by the Greek government to urgently and effectively address these programmeblems including by establishing the independent Hellenic Statistical Authority in March 2010;
Amendment 463 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Notes that financial assistance achieved in the short run the avoidance of a disorderly default on sovereign debt that would have had extremely severe economic and social consequences, as well as spill-over effects for other countries of an incalculable magnitude, and possibly the forced exit of countries from the euro area; further notes that there is no guarantee this will be avoided in the long run; also notes thatdespite certain shortcomings in decision-making, the financial assistance and adjustment programme in Greece have not prevetegrity of the eurozone has been guaranteed an orderly default nor contagion of the crisis to other Member Statesd is now irrevocable; deplores the economic and social downturn which became evident when the fiscal and macroeconomic corrections were put into place;
Amendment 476 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Regrets that decision-making at European level during the crisis has been at times fragmented, incoherent and delayed and notes that these shortcomings had a negative impact on crisis countries and facilitated spill-over effects;
Amendment 566 #
2013/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that national-level ownership is important, and that failure to implement agreed measures has consequences in terms of the expected results; notes also that wide political support for the goals of the programmes has been key for their successes and regrets that this has not always been the case in all crisis countries;
Amendment 2 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 21 May 2013 on 'Fight against Tax Fraud, Tax Evasion and Tax Havens',
Amendment 3 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 b (new)
Citation 14 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 12 December 2013 on a "Call for a measurable and tangible commitment against tax evasion and tax avoidance in the EU",
Amendment 4 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 c (new)
Citation 14 c (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 12 December 2013 on "preparations for the European Council meeting (19-20 December 2013)",
Amendment 15 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that economic recovery in the EU is under way; believes, however, that the recovery is still fragile and needs to be sustained in order to deliver more growth and jobs in the medium termstill fragile and smarter and democratically accountable policies at the European level are needed in order to achieve sustainable growth and jobs creation;
Amendment 23 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the recognition of the need for a fiscal consolidation that is growth friendly; urges the Commission to transmit this priority into concrete recommendations to the Member States, including those under economic adjustment programmes so that they do not only address fiscal consolidation but also structural reforms that lead to real, sustainable and socially balanced growth, employment, strengthened competitiveness and increasing convergence;
Amendment 24 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Regrets that the Commission promotes double-standards when it calls for the need to invest in growth and competitiveness by imposing as a precondition for a "growth-friendly fiscal consolidation" the existence of fiscal room of manoeuvre; stresses that back- loading of fiscal consolidation must still be taken into account as it could leave more room for counter-cyclical investments;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Notes that widening sovereign spreads have reduced significantly fiscal room for manoeuvre in a number of Member States; stresses that relying on institutional advances, monetary policy should substantially reduce sovereign spreads that still exist within the Euro area and hence contribute to stronger growth and sustainable public debts;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Urges the Commission to translate Europe 2020 objectives into the recommendations to all Member States, including those under economic adjustment programmes, and take proper account of the constraints created by these adjustment programmes in the delivery of Europe 2020 objectives;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the EU economy as a whole needs to further boost its competitiveness in the global economy, particularly by increasing competition in the product and services markets to enhance productivity and to lower prices, and by keeping labour costs in line with productivitywhile ensuring that internal macroeconomic imbalances are reduced;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. WelcomNotes the ambitious structural reforms implemented by those Member States that have experienced serious difficulties; encourages the rest of the euro area to be equally ambitious and to make their economies more competitive in order to increase growth and employmentadoption and implementation of structural reform programmes that promote convergence and competitiveness at national and European level and increase growth and employment; underlines the importance of a swift and effective implementation of programmes and schemes to fight unemployment especially of the youth;
Amendment 40 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of continuing the process of deep and sustainable structural reforms; stresses that the EU cannot compete on costs alone, but needs to invest more in research and development, education and skills, and resource efficiency, at both national and European level; stresses that wage deflation has to be addressed and a minimum wage norm across the EU has to be implemented, respecting national practices and economic conditions;
Amendment 45 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Reiterates its demand for a legal act on 'convergence guidelines' and its request that the Member States ensure that the national reform programmes are established on the basis of the aforementioned convergence guidelines; calls on the Member States to commit themselves to fully implement their national reform programmes; suggests that, on this basis, the Member States could enter into a 'convergence partnership' with the EU institutions, with conditional funding for reform activities; the European Parliament should be formally associated with this process; reiterates that such stronger economic cooperation should go hand in hand with an incentive-based financial mechanism; considers that any additional funding or instruments, such as a solidarity mechanism, must be an integral part of the EU budget, but outside the agreed multiannual financial framework (MFF) ceilings;
Amendment 60 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that EU financial assistance to certain Member States, being a combination of solidarity and conditionality, has proved to be successful when there is strong ownership and commitment to reform; urges the Commission and the Member States, however, to bring financial assistance under the Community framework and incorporate the countries under financial assistance into the European Semester cycle as a means to increase transparency and accountability of Commission as supervisory partner of the adjustment programmes and to include recommendations to these countries into a process of community dialogue; calls for the replacement of the ad hoc system of Troikas into a legally sound structure under the Community law guaranteeing democratic accountability;
Amendment 67 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the fact that Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is far from complete, and reminds the Commission of its obligations and commitments to enhance economic convergence and strengthen competitiveness in the EU; believes that this could best be achieved if the Commission were to finally put forward proposals for the completion of EMU as outlined in its blueprint on a deep and genuine EMU; notes that the completion of the EMU should be based exclusively on the community method;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 81 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages Member States under an adjustment programme to continue implementing growth friendly structural reforms; expresses concern aton the lack of political will ofownership on specific reforms in those Member States experiencing an excessive deficibudget or a current account deficit to modernise their economies;
Amendment 86 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Points out once more that a lack of political will to modernise economies,ambitious reforms to enhance competitiveness of the European economies, as well as to safeguard the sustainability of the social security systems and health care systems will put an excessive burden on future generations;
Amendment 93 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that structural reforms need to be complemented by longer-term investment in education, research, innovation and sustainable energy; believes that public-private partnerships are more successful in delivering growth thancan also be considered as a tool to promote investment, complementing public investment programmes alone;
Amendment 96 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States to simplify their tax systems and reiterates its call for them to shift taxes from labour to consumption where possible and where indirect taxes are particularly low in order to make resource use more efficient and sustainable; calls for urgent action to be taken and a comprehensive strategy based on concrete legislative measures and a set of tangible and measurable targets to be launched by the Commission to fight tax fraud and tax evasion; urges the Commission to incorporate these targets into the Europe 2020 strategy, and calls on the Commission to examine whether they could be given a clear role within the European Semester;
Amendment 106 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that access to finance, particularly for SMEs, is one of the biggest obstacles to growth in the EU; believes that more alternatives to bank financing are needed, especially by improving the business environment for venture capital but also, more broadly, by improving the efficient allocation of capital through capital markets; believes that the completion of the Banking Union will enhance access to finance and create a level playing field for SME's access to finance;
Amendment 119 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to explain to Parliament the specific measures it intends to take in order to deliver on its objectives of higher growth and, strengthened competitiveness and convergence; underlines the need for a clear definition of the growth-friendly fiscal consolidation that will also be reflected to Commission recommendations to achieve this target;
Amendment 126 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Takes note of the Alert Mechanism Report; notes the gradual reduction of inconclusions on internal imbalances in the EU economy; draws attention also to the external imbalances, in the EU economycluding the excessive external surpluses and the alarming reduction of export market shares in the majority of the member-states;
Amendment 129 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Points out that the objective of the macroeconomic imbalance procedure is to prevent the effects of ill-designed national policies from spilling over into other euro area Member States; is concerned that the Commission, in its reading of the scoreboard, does not take sufficient account of the fact that thenegative spill-overs into other euro area and its Member States are open economies;
Amendment 145 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Is concerned that only two Member States attained their medium-term objective; concludes that this means furtheralls on Member States to continue and if necessary strengthen their efforts for a growth-friendly fiscal consolidation in the non-complying Member States is necessary;
Amendment 147 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses that the European Semester must in no way jeopardise the prerogatives of the European Parliament and of the national parliaments; underlines the fact that there should be a clear division between EU and national competences and that the European Parliament is the seat of accountability at Union level; urges the Commission to ensure the proper formal involvement of the European Parliament in all steps of the European semester process in order to increase the democratic legitimacy of the decisions;
Amendment 149 #
2013/2157(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Stresses the need to strengthen the democratic accountability to the European Parliament and to the national parliaments of essential elements of the euro area’s operation, such as the European Stability Mechanism, Eurogroup decisions and the monitoring and evaluation of financial assistance programmes; asks the Commission to conduct and publish internal ex-post evaluations of its recommendations and its participation in the Troika;
Amendment 220 #
2013/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that the European Semester must in no way jeopardise the prerogatives of Parliament; urges the Commission to ensure the proper formal involvement of Parliament in all the steps of the European Semester process in order to increase the legitimacy of decisions which affect all citizens, including the preparation and discussion of CSRs for countries under Economic Adjustment Programmes in the context of the European Semester as a means to promote and enhance democratic legitimacy of the recommendations made in these countries;
Amendment 224 #
2013/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses the need to strengthen the democratic accountability to Parliament of essential elements of the euro area's operation, such as the ESM, Eurogroup decisions and the monitoring and evaluation of financial assistance programmes; in this context asks European Commission to conduct and publish internal ex-post evaluation of its recommendations and participation in Troika;
Amendment 74 #
2013/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that the transmission of monetary policy is not effective throughout the Eurozone since interest rates in countries facing economic difficulties are disproportionately high; underlines that higher interest rates in these countries are not only hampering the financing of the economy and its recovery but they also distort competition in the Internal Market; calls, therefore, on the ECB to introduce as soon as possible new instruments to address the ineffective transmission of monetary policy;
Amendment 76 #
2013/2076(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Considers that the use of Emergency Liquidity Assistance facility should not in cases of resolution result to an excessive burden for sovereigns or banks inheriting assets of a resolved bank; invites the ECB, also in its capacity as a member of the troikas where applicable, to support favourable terms of repayment of ELA in all such cases;
Amendment 422 #
2013/0253(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) to protect depositors covered by Directive 94/19/EC and investors covered by Directive 97/9/EC21 and minimise the impact on all other depositors. __________________ 21 Directive 97/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 March 1997 on investor-compensation schemes. OJ L 084, 26.03.1997, p.22.
Amendment 670 #
2013/0253(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 24 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) Where the exclusion is strictly necessary and proportionate to avoid giving rise to widespread contagion that would severely disrupt the functioning of financial markets in a manner that could cause a serious disturbance to the economy of a Member State or of the Uniona serious disturbance to the economy of a Member State or of the Union including to avoid widespread contagion that would severely disrupt the functioning of financial markets; or
Amendment 680 #
2013/0253(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 7 – point a
Article 24 – paragraph 7 – point a
(a) a contribution to loss absorption and recapitalisation equal to an amount not less than 8% of the total liabilities including own funds of the institution under resolution, measured at the time of resolution action in accordance with the valuation provided for in Article 17, has been made by shareholders and the holders of other instruments of ownership, the holders of relevant capital instruments and other eligible liabilities excluding deposits through write down, conversion or otherwise;
Amendment 684 #
2013/0253(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 8 – point c a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 8 – point c a (new)
(ca) where the amounts referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) are insufficient or not readily available, amounts borrowed by public instruments, preferably a Community public instrument.
Amendment 972 #
2013/0253(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 69 – paragraph 1
Article 69 – paragraph 1
1. The Board mayshall seek to contract for the Fund borrowings or other forms of support from financial institutions or other third parties, in the event that the amounts raised in accordance with Articles 66 and 67 are not immediately accessible or sufficient to cover the expenses incurred by the use of the Fund. If the Board fails to secure borrowings, it should make use of the loan facility established according to Article 64 paragraph 2 a (new).
Amendment 1009 #
2013/0253(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 73 – paragraph 4
Article 73 – paragraph 4
4. In the event resources of a deposit guarantee scheme are not sufficient to cover the payments to be made to depositors, and other resources are not immediately available from the relevant participating Member State, the Fund mayshall, following a request by the deposit guarantee scheme, lend the necessary resources to that deposit guarantee scheme provided that all the conditions under Article 10 of Directive 94/19/EC are met.
Amendment 60 #
2012/2151(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the economic,initially financial and banking crisis has repeatedly demonstrated that public debt at national level and financing problems as well as the disturbance of macroeconomic equilibriums quickly, directly and negatively affect the socio-economic development of the euro area and of the Union as a wholeevolved into an economic crisis and put significant pressure on government budgets directly and negatively affecting the socio-economic development of the euro area and of the Union as a whole; whereas high public debt at national level and financing problems as well as the disturbance of macroeconomic equilibriums exacerbated the socio-economic effects of the crisis;
Amendment 528 #
2012/2151(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital CH
Recital CH
CH. whereas deeper economic and budgetary integration will be undermined without closer coordination in the field of taxation; whereas the unanimity rule in the field of taxation hampers developments in this area, the instrument of enhanced cooperation should be used more frequently in the field of taxation; whereas reference can be made to the European Parliament's position on the common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB) and the financial transactions tax (FTT);
Amendment 540 #
2012/2151(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital CI
Recital CI
CI. whereas it is important that the recovery of the economy goes along with a labour market policy that reduces structural unemployment, especially for youth, old persons and women, and fully respects the role of the social partners and the right to negotiate and conclude collective agreements and take collective action in accordance with Union law and national laws and practices;
Amendment 43 #
2012/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that banks in the euro area have benefited from abundant and unconditional ECB liquidity; regrets that only a part of this liquidity has been used to finance SMEs;
Amendment 46 #
2012/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Recalls that in Europe the main source of financing of SMEs is the banking sector; believes that because of the fragmentation of the banking sector and the subsequent great divergence of lending rates and credit offer among countries, a differentiated approach to improving SMEs access to funding is necessary taking into account the country-specific circumstances;
Amendment 133 #
2012/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Recalls the European Council's commitment to increase the capital base of the EIB by €10 billion as part of the Compact for Growth and Jobs; calls on the EIB to use the majority of the extra €60 billion lending capacity to finance European SMEs especially where the fragmentation of the banking sector and country-specific risks has lead to reduced or expensive lending to the SMEs in order to create a level playing field and finance growth where the banking sector is failing;
Amendment 137 #
2012/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that in some Member States there is a record amount of household savings on bank accounts, while in other Member States deposits are reducing because of the effects of the crisis as citizens use up their savings or transfer their deposits to banks of Member States least affected by the crisis; stresses that activating these household savings canshould facilitate SMEs' cross-border access to finance and boost the EU economy; calls on the Commission to come forward with a proposal on the activation of these savings, e.g. by introducing tax incentives based on the best practices existing within the Member States;
Amendment 83 #
2012/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that the new enhanced economic governance framework including the six-pack, the forthcoming two-pack and the fiscal compact tackle effectively possible risks of 'moral hazard' in the case of common bond issuance
Amendment 144 #
2012/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Urges Member States to seriously consider the option of immediately establishing a European Redemption Fund in order to allow participating countries to reduce excessive debt over a maximum period of 25 years by using the interest rate savings for debt reduction;
Amendment 213 #
2012/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Believes that a Member States fully implementing its adjustment programme should be able to benefit from the issuance of common debt to redeem its debt in excess of 60% of its GDP, to break the negative feedback loop between sovereign and banking crises and to facilitate its return to the markets;
Amendment 222 #
2012/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Advocates, following the implementation of short-term measures to exit the crisis, the setting-up of a committee inspired by the Delors Committee of 1988, including representatives from Member States, the Commission and the ECB; believes that this committee should evaluate progress and make recommendations for further steps with regard to post-crisis phases, to be discussed iand should regularly report to the European Parliament; takes the view that this committee should also look at the possibility of issuing genuine federal bonds;
Amendment 251 #
2012/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex - Phase 1 - Point 1 - Paragraph 1 - Subparagraph 2
Annex - Phase 1 - Point 1 - Paragraph 1 - Subparagraph 2
- limit participation to Member States without an adjustment programme; provide for a phasing in of Member States that havare successfully coimpletedmenting an adjustment programme;
Amendment 253 #
2012/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex - Phase 1 - Point 1 - Paragraph 1 - Subparagraph 3
Annex - Phase 1 - Point 1 - Paragraph 1 - Subparagraph 3
- oblige Member States to autonomously redeem the transferred debt over a period of maximum 25 years by using the interest rate savings for debt redemption which could be shorter if the growth rate is higher than foreseen or longer if the growth rate is lower than foreseen or if justified due to significant external shocks beyond the control of the Member States;
Amendment 51 #
2011/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that the EU should fully exploit its position as the world's largest single common market (including its high standard of living, high labour efficiency, legal certainty and research and innovation capacity), foreign investor and trader in tackling the fiscal crisis, and highlights the need for more efficient tools and methods, new funding mechanisms and investment schemes, such as EU project bonds, that could exploit Europe's competitive advantages and realize the goals of the Europe 2020 EU' s growth strategy, such as green growth, in order to address the recession and slow growth challenges;
Amendment 70 #
2011/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the ECB’s longer-term refinancing operations (LTRO); calls on the ECB to further act in a decisive way in addressing the current euro-area debt crisis by maintaining price stability while at the same time minimising negative spill-over effects on the real economy and on the investments that the banking sector’s liquidity problems could generate and, moreover, shaping the operational framework of the banks in such a way that a proportion of the grants be made available for development purposes and for support of small and medium-sized enterprises. Finally, that it should establish a network of collaboration and utilisation of EU resources;
Amendment 87 #
2011/2288(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Supports the objectives of the Innovation Union; calls on Member States to target investment in education, research and innovation, given the medium- and long- term positive effects it can have on growth and development; supports smart specialisation as an important policy principle and concept for innovation policy and stronger links between research and entrepreneurship;
Amendment 18 #
2011/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas comprehensive and sustained fiscal consolidation is necessary to restore fiscal credibility, and the reduction of debt requires both expenditure restraint and tax increases, whilalong with fairer and more targeted distribution of the tax burden is necessary to restore fiscal credibility and in that sense growth- oriented tax changes must be given priority;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas sustainable exit from the fiscal crisis and enhancing of EU growth require not only rationalising of public expenditure by targeting it to investments of high added value , but also a progressive shift of tax burden from labour and productive investments to sectors with important negative externalities;
Amendment 18 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 49 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the singlebasic objective of the ECB is price stability; notes that de facto financial stability is becoming a second objective; and that financial stability is a second objective; notes, however, that the current debt crisis in the eurozone has shown the direct connection between monetary and financial policy and stability; congratulates the ECB on the decisive role it has played through the emergency measures it has taken to maintain market stability and also notes the work ofdone by the ESRB, under the auspices of the ECB on financi, to secure fiscal stability;
Amendment 85 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 91 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Welcomes the extraordinary steps taken by the ECB as a means of immediate crisis management, but stresses the need to find a comprehensive solution at European level, in a first phase by broadening the competencies of the temporary and permanent financial stability mechanism and, in a second phase, by issuing Eurobonds;
Amendment 113 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Restates with concernStresses the overreliance of many euro area banks on the liquidity provided by the ECB, in the absence of a fully functional interbank market; notes with concern the collateral policies of the ECB as regards the amount and the quality of asset-backed securities provided to the Eurosystem as collateral, estimated at EUR 488 billion;
Amendment 125 #
2011/2156(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges the necessity of non- standard monetary policy measures, but calls for a phasing-out of those programmes as soon as possibl and recalls their temporary nature;
Amendment 92 #
2011/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Underlines the importance of a stable and fertile investment environment for the deployment of renewable energy beyond 2020; calls therefore on the Commission to develop a strategy for the deployment of renewable energy beyond 2020 based on an interim binding European target of 45% renewable energy by 2030;
Amendment 97 #
2011/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Recalls that electricity grids will have to be upgraded and developed, in particular to transport renewable energy produced in areas with major potential, such as offshore wind energy in the Northern Sea and solar energy in southern Europe and to accomodate decentralised production of renewable energy;
Amendment 112 #
2011/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Invites the Member States to invest more in energy infrastructure, in particular in energy networks and smart meters and, with regard to inter-regional connections, to launch an investment plan based on the European Energy Infrastructure Package; Calls on the European Commission to respond appropriately to the financing needs of building an integrated European network;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that one of the key features of VAT is the principle of neutrality [1], and that since VAT is a finaltax on the final stage of consumption tax, businesses should not bear the burden of the VAT; points out that Member States should ensure that in principle all commercial transactions are taxed as far as possible and that any exemptions are construed narrowly, whilst also ensuring that similar goods and services are subject to the same VAT treatments;
Amendment 33 #
2011/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that in order to ensure neutrality VAT on goods and services that are used for taxed economic activities must be fully deductible; notes that at present the rules on input tax deduction are complex and cause problems for businesses due to issues arising from the type of companynature of their activities (scope), type of service (exemptions) or nature of services (deductibility);
Amendment 41 #
2011/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 α (new)
Paragraph 9 α (new)
9a. Stresses that goods and services to which a lower rate applies must have a particular added value in economic terms or in terms of consumer protection while respecting the particular nature of each national economy; calls for the application of a lower rate to products and services in the case of - products from very small factories principally manufactured and consumed within the Member State concerned with a view to promoting small and very small manufacturers and businesses, - goods and services designed to improve road safety, - engineering and digital technology for agricultural production;
Amendment 51 #
2011/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to present within a reasonable period of time a proposal for a Standard European Electronic Invoice based on a linguistically neutral template so as to facilitate cross- border transactions;
Amendment 65 #
2011/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that the business community requires clear VAT rules that increase legal certainty and the likelihood of uniform interpretation by Member States; considers also that since Council Directives give discretionary powers to the Member States and contain unclear provisions that increase the possibility of multiple interpretations, the resulting complex VAT system hinders cross-border activities and leads to unnecessary administrative burdens; considers that VAT rules should be consistent with EU policies in other areas, such as sustainability and climate change;
Amendment 37 #
2011/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the fact that financial and commodity markets today are more intertwined than ever and that the price volatility of commodities is to a great extent the result of speculation;
Amendment 39 #
2011/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the Commission to proceed with the review of the Markets in Financial Services Directive in order to provide for more transparent trading by mandating trading of commodity derivatives on organised trading venues and giving regulators the power to set position limits;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 40 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Takes the view that energy efficiency should be a mandatory award criterion in public procurement. Calls on the Commission to propose clear energy efficiency criteria as criteria in public procurement technical specifications;
Amendment 16 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas our major energy challenges are confronting climate change, guarantying the safe operation of existing nuclear plants, strengthening energy autonomsecurity while reducing fossil fuel dependency, especially from imports, achieving a competitive internal energy market and ensuring universal access to sustainable, affordable and secure energy,
Amendment 37 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas a lack of timely modernisation and adjustment of the Union's energy infrastructure to a more sustainable energy production and consumption model could jeopardise the capacity to achieve the energy and climate objectives for 2020 - especially the target for the integration of renewable energy sources - and undermine the EU's 2050 long-term objective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 to 95%,
Amendment 69 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas energy infrastructures planned today must be consistent with long-term EU climate and energy objectives, giving priority to these energy sources with no societal and environmental cost,
Amendment 104 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas market-based tools must remain the basis for financing energy infrastructure, and whereas a limited amount of public finance may be required to fund certain projects which are not strictly commercially viable, taking into account the level playing field and the need to avoid distortions amongst projects and destination markets,
Amendment 227 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that fostering the building of infrastructure for efficient and intelligent integration of renewable energy is critical for the successful achievement of overall energy objectives and welcomes the priority given to the North Sea grid as annd the Mediterranean Ring as essential elements of a future European super-grid; asks the Commission to consult all relevant stakeholders with a view to speeding up the identification of electricity highways and to present an outline to the European Parliament by 2014;
Amendment 256 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that no region, including island regions, of the EU Members States should remain isolated from the European gas and electricity networks after 2015 or see its energy security jeopardised by lack of the appropriate connections;
Amendment 377 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Considers that smart meters installation should be combined with specific gains for consumers, especially the vulnerable ones, who cannot easily shift their energy consumption from peak to off-peak tariff;
Amendment 452 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – indent 3
Paragraph 25 – indent 3
– feasibility and maturity of projects,
Amendment 463 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – indent 6 a (new)
Paragraph 25 – indent 6 a (new)
- the diversification of the energy routes and sources;
Amendment 478 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to evaluate the readiness of European Infrastructures to withstand natural disasters and other catastrophic events, and calls on the Commission as a matter of urgency to make any appropriate proposals;
Amendment 544 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Supports the idea of issuing common European project bonds to finance Europe's significant infrastructure needs and structural projects in the framework of the EU 2020 agenda, including the new Strategy on Energy Infrastructure Development; believes that EU project bonds would secure the investment required and create sufficient confidence to enable major investment projects to attract the support they need and would thus become an important mechanism for maximum leverage of public support; recalls that, if Europe is to be put on a sustainable footing, these projects must also contribute to the ecological transformation of our economies, paving the way for the zero-carbon economy;
Amendment 548 #
2011/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses that the fullest possible use should be made of market-based tools, including project bonds, revolving funds, renewable energy equity funds, loan guarantees, risk-sharing facilities, incentives for funding public-private partnerships, partnerships with the EIB and the use of ETS revenue and revenue from a carbon tax following the revision of the energy taxation directive, in accordance with EU energy and climate objectives;
Amendment 1 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WBelcomesieves that the European Semester process, which is intended to achieve stronger economic governance should become a strong tool for enhancing economic and fiscal coordination, which should not be restricted to the supervision of fiscal programmes of Member States but should also assess the alignment of national budgets with the EU 2020 strategy commitments and goals; believes that successful implementation of the EU 2020 strategy requires substantial, coordinated and appropriate financial commitments to be made to meeting its priorities at both EU and Member State level and that any limitation in the relevant EU budget appropriations would undermine its achievement;
Amendment 24 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Supports the idea of issuing project bonds to finance Europe's significant infrastructure needs and structural projects in the framework of the 2020 agenda, anticipated new EU strategies, such as the new Strategy on Energy Infrastructure Development, and other large-scale projects; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that the European project bonds mechanism is in place as soon as possible, before 2014, which is the date stated as target in the Commission's relevant consultation document;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that clear goals in sustainable energy policy, energy efficiency and resource efficiency policy can deliver cost- efficient benefits for the European economy as a whole; calls for the allocation of EU and Member State public and private resources to investments in those priority sectors; welcomes in this regard the review of the Energy Taxation Directive, which can provide significant additional revenue and major incentives to shift towards renewable energy sources;
Amendment 30 #
2011/2012(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is deeply concerned that the EU is not on track to meet targets to reduce energy consumption by 20% as compared with the projections for 2020, owing to a lack of commitment and ambition on the part of the Member States; believes that binding energy efficiency measures should be complemented with a binding target on energy efficiency by at least 20% by 2020;
Amendment 36 #
2011/2012(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the fact that the EU is well on track to meet its 2020 renewable energy goalsaccording to the recently submitted national renewable energy action plans, the EU is well on track to meet its 2020 renewable energy goals; warns that the actual achievement of the goals depends on the strict implementation of the action plans and calls on the Commission to closely monitor implementation and take corrective action where appropriate; is concerned about a possible reduction in future investments in renewable energy due to an unstable investment environment for the period after 2020;
Amendment 49 #
2011/2012(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises the important role of smart grids and smart meters in integrating electricity from renewable sources; welcomes the work carried out by the task force on smart meters and asks the Commission to put forward a number of recommendations and legislative proposals as soon as possible;
Amendment 54 #
2011/2012(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that speeding up authorisation procedures for new infrastructure projects with an emphasis on innovation and energy efficiency is a prerequisite if European energy and climate targets are to be achieved on schedule;
Amendment 135 #
2011/2012(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that tightening the ETS reduction target would lead to a further increase in electricity prices, which would be a major concern for EU industries and for consumers; notes that unless the most cost-efficient trajectory for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050 is now pursued, the cost borne by industries and consumers in the future will be unsustainable;
Amendment 183 #
2011/2012(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 29 – point 5 a (new)
Paragraph 29 – point 5 a (new)
·proceed with a comprehensive review of the energy taxation directive to make CO2 emissions and energy content basic criteria for the taxation of energy products;
Amendment 5 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the development of the world economy during the last decades generally has been remarkably successful, with the number of people living in had an important growth but at the same time has created grelat dive prosperity increasing from one to four billionrgences between regions of the world by deepening the economic and social gap amongst them,
Amendment 13 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the imbalances of today are nothing new as such, but only a replacement of other imbalances that characterised the global economy for decades, althoughhave significantly worsened due to the crisis and became today greater in magnitude and creating thus new challenges for global governance to ensure a fair and sustainable growth for all and rendering current arrangements insufficient,
Amendment 21 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the crisis has revealed to what extent the financial sector has moved away from its basic role of financing the real economy towards extremely high risk transactions triggering downfalls all along the economic chain and in particular for public finances,
Amendment 24 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 30 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the current international monetary system has enabled several countries to proceed into competitive devaluation strategies which along with the growing speculative transactions carried by powerful market stakeholders on exchange markets have severely contributed to excess rate volatility and created significant risks for the exchanges markets as well as the international trade,
Amendment 31 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. recalls that the G20 summits held right after the outburst of the financial crisis have reached an agreement to ensure that financial institutions assume their fair share of responsibility for the turmoil, but no concrete agreement on a proper instrument has been reached so far,
Amendment 40 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that an imbalance as such does not necessarily constitute a threat to financial stability or economic growth; taking this into account, stresses that imbalances stemming from structural misalignments and a lack of competitiveness in the domestic economy should be addressed, as this is where the fundamental problems are to be found;
Amendment 51 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses however that several important aspects, such as finding an effective regime for non compliant regimes (such as tax heavens) and ensuring more transparency in areas such as the shadow banking system have not yet been efficiently addressed hampering this way regulators' work and continuing the asymmetric information, one of the causes of the recent crisis;
Amendment 52 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls for better global regulation of credit default swaps especially when interconnected with the public sector and asks for banning of naked selling of sovereign debt;
Amendment 53 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Calls on the G20 leaders to speed up the negotiations for an agreement on the minimum common elements of a global FTT which would improve the functioning of the market by reducing speculation and ensure that the financial sector assumes its fair share of the burden;
Amendment 54 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Stresses that the future architecture of the global economic governance should not only foresee sound regulation, supervision and governance of financial markets but also guarantee a sustainable growth model ensuring a sustained balance between fiscal consolidation and job creation, investments in infrastructures, education and sustainable industries, social equality and fight against poverty;
Amendment 64 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is aware that, ultimately, confidence in the strength of the underlying economy and the depth and sophistication of its financial markets arshould be the main determinants for which currencies are kept as reserves by central banks;
Amendment 92 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need to agree a set of macroeconomic indicators that will allow this monitoring to take place at a global level; underlines that these indicators should cover internal imbalances, such as public debt and deficits and private savings and debt, employment rates and indicators on social inclusion and education as well as external imbalances from trade and investment flows and transfers;
Amendment 104 #
2011/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that for EU to assume its leading role EU must be able to speak with one voice and move forward with an EU sear in the IMF and the World Bank;
Amendment 42 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Projects of common interest in the fields of electricity, gas and carbon dioxide should be eligible to receive Union financial assistance for studies and, under certain conditions, for works under the proposed Regulation for a Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Regulation), either in the form of grants or in the form of innovative financial instruments. This will ensure tailor-made support can be provided to those projects of common interest which are not viable under the existing regulatory framework and market conditions. The avoidance of any distortion of competition, in particular between projects contributing to the achievement of the same EU priority corridor, should be duly taken into account. Such financial assistance should ensure the necessary synergies with funding from instruments under other Union policies. In particular, the Connecting Europe Facility will finance energy infrastructure of European relevance, while Structural Funds will finance smart energy distribution networks of local or regional importance. The two sources of funding will thereby complement each other.
Amendment 43 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30 a (new)
Recital 30 a (new)
(30α) In the current climate of economic crisis, the wide credit rating disparity between Member States and investors could lead to imbalances and major obstacles to project funding. The contribution of EU funding to overcoming these imbalances is of central importance in ensuring that the realisation of infrastructural projects helping to achieve the objectives of this regulation is not compromised – particularly in view of the fact that the lion’s share of the necessary funding for energy infrastructures over the coming decade will be provided by the private sector.
Amendment 85 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the project is commercially not viable according to the business plan and other assessments carried out, notably by possible investors or creditors. The decision on incentives and its justification referred to in paragraph 3 of shall be taken into account when assessing the project's commercial viability; or the project promoter can clearly demonstrate that there are disproportionately high financing costs or inability to access market financing due to exceptional financial and economic difficulties facing the Member State or Member States where the whole or part of the project of common interest is to be implemented; and
Amendment 91 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 3 – paragraph 1
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 3 – paragraph 1
(3) North-South electricity interconnections in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe (‘NSI East Electricity’): interconnections and internal lines in North-South and East-West directions to complete the internal market, to end the isolation of Island Electrical Systems and integrate generation from renewable energy sources.
Amendment 92 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 2 – introductory part
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 2 – introductory part
(2) North-South gas interconnections in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe (‘NSI East Gas’): regional gas connections between the Baltic Sea region, the Adriatic and Aegean Seas and, the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, notably to enhance diversification and security of gas supply;
Amendment 59 #
2011/0261(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) This Directive does not address the management of revenue from the FTT. However, having regard to the Commission proposal for a Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014 to 2020 and in particular concerning the provisions on the Union's own resources, part of the revenue from an FTT could be envisaged to be managed at Union level, either as a part of Union own resources or directly linked to specific Union policies and public goods, inter alia, the financing of development aid goals, the fight against climate change, sustainable development and the Union's social welfare state. The use of part of the FTT revenues as Union own resources will reduce the dependency of the Union budget on national contributions and will release funds from the national budgets for other uses. According to the preliminary estimations and depending on market reactions, the revenue from an FTT could be EUR 57 billion annually, if implemented at Union level.
Amendment 124 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Union is facing unprecedented challenges resulting from increased dependence on energy imports and scarce energy resources, and the need to limit climate change and to overcome the economic crisis. Energy efficiency is a valuable means to address these challenges. It improves the Union's security of supply by reducing primary energy consumption and decreasing energy imports. It helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way and thereby to mitigate climate change. It is a crucial instrument for keeping energy affordable for all consumers and in the fight against energy poverty. Shifting to a more energy-efficient economy should also accelerate the spread of innovative technological solutions and improve the competitiveness of industry in the Union, boosting economic growth and creating high quality jobs in several sectors related to energy efficiency.
Amendment 137 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The energy efficiency targets can best be reached by involving as many parties as possible, public as well as private. This will induce a high leverage effect, create jobs and contribute to greener growth on the path to the creation of a competitive and sustainable Europe.
Amendment 208 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) The EU institutions should also set the right example by renting and purchasing only products, services and buildings of the highest available energy performance class.
Amendment 237 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) When designing energy efficiency improvement measures, account should be taken of efficiency gains and savings obtained through the widespread application of cost-effective technological innovations such as smart meters. To maximise the saving benefits of these innovations, final customers should be able to visualise indicators of cost and consumption and have regular individual billing based on actual consumption. In addition to that, Member States shall develop Demand Response programmes that will empower and reward decentralized and flexible energy generators in combination with Demand Response providers.
Amendment 244 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21 b (new)
Recital 21 b (new)
(21b) Energy poverty is mainly caused by a combination of low income, poor housing and high energy prices. These three elements must be fought by increasing energy efficiency of homes, making the energy market responsible, and by developing social inclusion measures.
Amendment 266 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The specific structure of the cogeneration and district heating and cooling sectors, which include many small and medium-sized producers, should be taken into account, especially when reviewing the administrative procedures for obtaining permission to construct cogeneration capacity or associated networks, in application of the ‘Think Small First’ principle. Notably, the installation of micro-cogeneration units in individual premises should be facilitated.
Amendment 423 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 27 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 27 a (new)
27 a. 'Energy poverty' means having to spend a disproportionate amount of income on energy. Specifically this is defined as households having to spend in percentage terms of their household income, more than twice the median value of the percentage spend by households on energy used within the home; the spend is calculated to attain the same indoor temperatures as the majority of the national households
Amendment 424 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2a Financing and Technical Support 2a. Without prejudice to Articles 107 and 108 TFEU, Member States shall establish financing facilities to aggregate multiple streams of financing including: (a) financial contributions and fines from non-fulfilment of the obligations set out in Article 6, (b) resources allocated to energy efficiency under Article 10(3) of Directive 2009/29/EC, (c) resources allocated to energy efficiency from EU projects bonds, (d) resources allocated to energy efficiency in the multiannual financial framework, in particular cohesion and structural funds, and dedicated European financial instruments, technical assistance and financial engineering, (e) resources allocated to energy efficiency from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other European financial institutions, in particular the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Council of Europe development Bank (CEB), f) national resources, including from public banks and other national financial institutions. 2. The financing facilities shall: (a) use this money to generate the highest leverage possible of private capital, in particular drawing on institutional investors; (b) provide financial tools (e.g. loan guarantees for private capital, loan guarantees to foster energy performance contracting, grants, subsidised loans and dedicated credit lines) that reduce both the perceived and the actual risks of energy efficiency projects; (c) be linked to programmes or agencies which will aggregate and quality assess energy saving projects, provide technical assistance, promote the energy services market and help to generate consumer demand for these services, in accordance with Article 14; (d) provide appropriate resources to support training and certification programmes which improve and accredit skills for energy efficiency. 3. The Commission shall, where appropriate, directly or via the European financial institutions, assist Member States upon request in setting up financing facilities and technical support schemes with the aim of increasing energy efficiency in different sectors, by supporting the exchange of best practice between the responsible national or regional authorities or bodies. 4. The Commission shall in collaboration with the EIB devise a strategy to support the financing mechanisms attract private capital by for example raising awareness about the financing facilities among targeted institutional investors and drafting guidelines based on best practices.
Amendment 425 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Amendment 432 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Each Member States shall set a national energy efficiency target expressed as anensure that its national absolute level of primary energy consumption in 2020. When setting is below these targets, in they shall take into account the Union’s target of 20 % energy savings, the measures provided for in this Directive, the measures adopted to reach the national energy saving targets adopted pursuant to Article 4(1) of Directive 2006/32/EC and other measures to promote energy efficiency within Member States and at Union level left column of the table in Annex -1. These mandatory national targets are consistent with the objectives of the Union of at least 20% energy savings which requires a reduction of EU primary energy consumption by at least 368 Mtoe in 2020.
Amendment 487 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3 a Long-term energy savings target 1. Member states shall draw up plans to increase energy savings beyond 2020 leading up to 2050. Member states shall, in coordination with the Commission, set targets for energy savings as part of European energy policy. 2. By 1 January 2014, Member States shall establish and make publicly available the national plans referred to in paragraph 1. They shall include at least: (a) a record of buildings differentiated according to the category of building, (b) an inventory of buildings owned by public bodies indicating the floor area in m2; and the energy performance of each building, (c) Energy savings targets for 2020, 2030 and 2040 along with detailed plans specifying the measures to achieve targets as well as specification of targets in different sectors. These targets shall be consistent with reaching the long term objective referred to in paragraph 1, (d) measures to address social, health and safety, technical and financial challenges in the buildings sector, (e) measures to ensure that tenants are not financially penalised, (f) measures to combat energy poverty.
Amendment 625 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The EU institutions will set the good example by decreasing their own energy use through, amongst others, innovative heating, lighting, installing energy efficient appliances and resource efficient processes. As for their buildings, they will integrate renewable energies where possible and bring their energy performance level up to the highest performance class (as defined in the country where the building is located) by 2015".
Amendment 633 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
As public bodies can function as very important role models for the rest of society, can promote new innovative energy efficiency products and services and account for a considerable part of the National energy consumption, Member States shall ensure that public bodies only purchase onlyand invest in products, services and buildings with the highest energy efficiency performance, as referred to in Annex III.
Amendment 741 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – point a
(a) include requirements with a social aim in the saving obligations they impose, including by requiring measures to be implemented in households affected by energy poverty or in social housingrecalling that Member States have defined the concept of vulnerable customers pursuant to Directive 2009/72 Article 3(7), member states shall ensure that a share of energy efficiency measures are targeted at this group;
Amendment 744 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – point a
(a) include requirements with a social aim in the saving obligations they impose, including by requiring measures to be implemented as a priority in households affected by energy poverty or in social housing;
Amendment 849 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall develop programmes to encourage households and small and medium-sized enterprises to undergo energy audits. These energy audits shall identify and quantify cost-effective saving opportunities in the short, medium and long term.
Amendment 1068 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. By 1 January 2014, Member States shall establish and notify to the Commission a national heating and cooling plan for developing the potential for the application of high-efficiency cogeneration and efficient district heating and cooling, and other high energy efficient technologies containing the information set out in Annex VII. The plans shall be updated and notified to the Commission every five years. Member States shall ensure by means of their regulatory framework that national heating and cooling plans are taken into account in local and regional development plans, including urban and rural spatial plans, and fulfil the design criteria in Annex VII.
Amendment 1341 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Member States shall ensure that household or communities are allowed to feed excess electricity, generated by small- scale or micro-technologies, onto the power grid and are financially compensated for that. When citizens, individually or in group, own and operate micro-scale renewable energy systems the generated electricity is not seen as production but as energy efficiency.
Amendment 1431 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
b a) ensuring that public authorities consider the use of energy services including energy performance contracting;
Amendment 1443 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
e a) establishing a working group comprised of representatives of the 27 Member States an the European Commission with the aim to facilitate an exchange of best practices for the promotion of the energy services market;
Amendment 1444 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Member States shall ensure that training and job creation will benefit both men and women by focussing on changing the gender segregated labour market within the energy sector.
Amendment 1445 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member states shall develop a national strategy to promote and enable an efficient use of energy in the home. This strategy shall include the establishment of a single point of contact for advice and accredited providers, as defined in Articles 13 and 14. Member States may also use a range of tools to promote behaviour change in a joined-up way, including: fiscal incentives, access to finance, grants or subsidies, information provisions, exemplar projects, workplace activities, minimum standards for products and services. These strategies shall include a programme to engage consumers during the rollout of smart meters through communication of: cost-effective and easy to achieve changes in energy use and information on energy efficiency measures. Member States shall in the report referred to in Article 19 (2) also report on the progress of these strategies every 3 years.
Amendment 1610 #
2011/0172(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex III – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Annex III – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Additional buildings the EU Institutions will rent or purchase in future will systematically be in the best available energy performance class
Amendment 22 #
2010/2304(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Amendment 46 #
2010/2304(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the need to make best use of all available complementary technologies to achieve broadband coverage in rural areas, mountainous regions, and islands, without undue burdens onfor consumers or the industry;
Amendment 136 #
2010/2304(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the Commission's proposal to explore new financing sources and innovative financing instruments; to that direction supports the creation of an EU bond project bonds system which in collaboration with the EIB and the guarantee of EU budget will respond to the current financing gap due to the reluctance of the private investing and the serious constraints of the national budgets; therefore urges the Commission to move forward as soon as possible with concrete legislative proposals for the implementation of this alternative source of financing for big infrastructure projects carrying a European added value;
Amendment 5 #
2010/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Β
Recital Β
B. whereas CRAs arethe role of CRAs is to act as information intermediaries, reducing information asymmetries in the capital markets and facilitating global market access, reducing information costs and widening the potential pool of borrowers, thus providing liquidity to markets and helping find prices,
Amendment 14 #
2010/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas CRAs were instrumental in the development of the euro zone debt crisis through their repeated downgrading of national bonds and unfavourable assessments of euro zone economies, disregarding favourable EU, ECT and IMF assessments of progress by national financial reform and restructuring programmes or the major steps taken at European level to strengthen economic governance and provide a permanent framework for financial stability; whereas these unfavourable assessments had major implications for the European banking system and EU bond market,
Amendment 23 #
2010/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the industry’s key problem is lack of competition, accountability and transparency and the regulatory system’s key problem is dependency on external credit ratings,
Amendment 34 #
2010/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the recent developments in the euro crisis have highlighted the significant role of sovereign debt ratings, as well as major shortcomings concerning the rules governing the regulation and oversight of CRA activities,
Amendment 143 #
2010/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that the markets appear to attach greater importance to euro zone public debt assessment by CRAs than to EU, ECT and IMF assessments; considers it necessary to restore the balance immediately and return to assessments on the basis of reliable updated and fully substantiated information;
Amendment 144 #
2010/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Takes the view that a decisive step in this direction could be the introduction of an independent European credit rating body;
Amendment 153 #
2010/2302(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Stresses the urgent need for CRA assessments to take full account of updated information regarding national budget implementation and the effectiveness of financial adjustment and restructuring measures, so as to prevent national and European bond markets being seriously undermined by inaccurate assessments;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas protectionism and non- enforcement of competition rules would only deepen and prolong the crisis; stressing, however, that the non- adaptability of competition policy measures to exceptional circumstances could also have disastrous effects,
Amendment 8 #
2010/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Ε. whereas not only the growing budget deficits and increased levels of public debt in many Member States may slow downbut also asphyxiating fiscal austerity and the lack of suitable development incentives and investment will seriously jeopardise economic recovery and economic growth for years to come,
Amendment 11 #
2010/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Member States’ governments, as a response to the financial crisis, have granted a sizable amount of State aid in the form, for example, of guarantee schemes, recapitalisation schemes and complementary forms of liquidity support on bank funding; whereas these measures have provided banks with a significant source of funding and insurance against the risks usually faced by the financial sector, which have been heightened or even brought into being by the recent financial and economic crisis,
Amendment 34 #
2010/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is concerned that these measures, which are temporary in nature, might ultimately not be that temporary; uUrges the Commission to provide clarity on the phasing out criteria that will be used to decide on their possible need for their extension;
Amendment 69 #
2010/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes that the use of ever higher fines as the sole antitrust instrument may be too blunt, not least considering potential job lossStresses the need for the consistent implementation of antitrust policies, including the imposition of stiff fines on the one hand and policies to increase the competitiveness of undertakings by providing targeted incentives on the other, bearing in mind the possibly harmful consequences asof a result of the inability to payone-sided approach in terms of employment; notes that substantial revenues deriving from fines are currently collected by the Commission and enter the EU budget; emphasises that a policy of high fines should not be used as an alternative budget financing mechanism;
Amendment 94 #
2010/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27α. Considers it necessary to take immediate action in response to inadmissible banking practices regarding debt levels in the form of consumer credit and mortgages, with a view to ensuring compliance with the rules of fair competition in this sector and reducing costs to consumers;
Amendment 28 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas energy infrastructure need to be financed first and foremost by energy tariffs; but whereas EU funding might also be needed where markets alone can not finance such investments, especially in the least developed regions and in remote regions,
Amendment 33 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that any future strategy should seek to fulfil the Lisbon Treaty objectives ofand those contained in the special energy chapter concerning a single energy market, security of supply, energy efficiency and savings, the development of new and renewable energy sources and the promotion and interlinking of energy networks and lead to a reduced reliance on energy imports and an increase in domestic energy production;
Amendment 45 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity established by treaty for the first time, that the proposed strategy should be carried out, above all, in the spirit of solidarity and responsibility, where no Member State can be left behind or isolated and all Member States take measures to ensure the Union's mutual security; stresses the inclusion of a specific chapter on energy (article 194 TFEU) ensuring a firm legal basis for Union action based on the Community method;·
Amendment 127 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b
Paragraph 15 – point b
(b) set priority projects and set criteria to identify key investments for the development of the internal energy market, taking account also of the geographic scope of the projects, so as to ensure that energy infrastructure investments help to promote economic and social cohesion and the creation of fresh job opportunities for all European citizens;
Amendment 160 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that innovative financial instruments (as for instance risk-sharing facilities and loan schemes by public banks) could be an important tool for supporting investments in the energy infrastructure and energy efficiency; calls, therefore, on the Commission to increasingly replace traditional loans by these schemes; strongly endorses the proposal to use the EU budget equity as loan guarantees to encourage private and PPP investments; believes that energy infrastructure projects which promote EU strategic energy objectives may also be funded through the issuing of Eurobonds;
Amendment 205 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Asks the Commission to come forward withordinate an impact assessment carried out by an independent body on the future of the world and EU gas market, including the impact of the already planned gas infrastructure projects (i.e. Nabucco, ITGI), new LNG terminals, the impact of shale gas on the US gas market (notably on LNG import needs) and the impact of possible shale gas developments in the EU on future gas security of supply and prices before the end of the year;
Amendment 306 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls on the Commission and the involved Member States to further proceed with the immediate implementation of the EU pipeline project Nabucco, which couldose projects which are expected to significantly enhance the security of gas supply of the European Union; asks for the vacancy of the EU Nabucco co-ordinator post to be filled as soond to give priority to the infrastructure referred to in the Second Strategic Energy Review, such as the development of the southern gas possiblecorridor (Interconnector Turkey-Greece- Italy and Nabucco);
Amendment 318 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Calls for the completion of the interconnected system in southern Europe;
Amendment 321 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Calls for promoting the DESERTEC and Mediterranean Solar Plan initiatives by supporting decentralised solar power plants in the North African region and its connection to the grid; notes that the exploitation of the energy resources of the countries of North Africa, through making full use of renewable sources of energy, should help to enhance the security of energy supplies, whilst strengthening the development and social cohesion of the countries and populations of the region and limiting the gap between North and South;
Amendment 418 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 51
New title after paragraph 51
Energy and External Policy. Europe and third countries.
Amendment 419 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51a. Emphasises the need to coordinate energy talks with neighbouring countries which have abundant reserves of alternative forms of energy and to develop jointly with the EU programmes to promote clean forms of energy and the exchange of know-how and technology; priority should be given to promoting the objectives of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and the Mediterranean Ring;
Amendment 426 #
2010/2108(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Paragraph 51 b (new)
51b. Believes, with a view to the Cancun Summit, that the ΕU should be at the head of efforts to achieve a comprehensive, legally binding and ambitious agreement, demonstrating that it is able to speak with one voice and confirm its leading role, bringing back to centre stage its proposal for a unilateral target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30% by 2020;
Amendment 64 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to present an evaluation of the result of the efforts made by Member States and the Commission; considers that, if the evaluation reveals unsatisfactory implementation of the strategy and the EU is therefore projected not to reach its 2020 target, the EEAP should include a commitment by the Commission to propose further EU measures such asimplementation of the existing legislation; urges the Commission to include in the new EEAP a commitment to propose binding energy efficiency targets for the Member States, which are fair, measurable and take into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances; stresses that the method should be based on absolute reductions in energy consumption to ensure transparency of Member States; asks the Commission to propose further EU measures and to enforcement mechanisms to ensure implementation of current legislation;
Amendment 105 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges Member States to set up more comprehensive and coordinated market surveillance and compliance-monitoring programmes for the Directives on buildings, eco-design, energy labelling and energy labelling for tyres, in particular regarding import Directives, and calls on the Commission to facilitate and monitor the implementation of these programmes and start infringement procedures if necessary;
Amendment 107 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Suggests that, understanding the challenge and importance of market surveillance, which is a national competence, the Commission should facilitate cooperation and sharing of information among Member States, in particular by creating an open EU database of test results and of non- compliant products identified in Member State and by taking steps to ensure that a non-compliant product identified in one Member State is quickly removed from all 27 Markets;
Amendment 110 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Following the entry into force of the revised Energy Labelling Directive, askencourages the Commission in a few years" time to assess the impact ofto assess, before the 2014 date mentioned in the Directive, the impact of the new energy labelling layout, and the mandatory reference to the energy-label scheme in advertisements, on consumers"' behaviour;
Amendment 165 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the need to increase support for initiatives which focus on the local and regional level to lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions such as the Covenant of Mayors and the Smart Cities initiative;
Amendment 233 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Urges Member States to systematically use energy efficient public procurement practices;
Amendment 241 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the rapid and proper implementation of the Directives on Ecodesign and Energy Labelling by adopting implementing measures and delegated acts covering new energy-related products; considers that the Directive on Eco- Design should also cover products for large buildings, industrial equipment, integrated lighting systems in buildings, pumps and water efficiency products and should also include a definition of minimum performance requirements for building, including new household appliances, industrial equipment and building materials;
Amendment 264 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to evaluate legislation and make sure that legislation addresses products, systems and their energy use and considers it necessary to increase the awareness of EU citizens regarding the energy and resource efficiency of consumer and energy-related products; notes that educating sales professionals on communicating energy efficiency benefits is a key factor of successful awareness-raising of EU citizens; considers that when evaluating energy consumption, applications should be considered as a whole, rather than single part-products only;
Amendment 328 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Calls on the Commission to proceed with the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive with a view to include the aspect of CO2 emissions in combination with energy consumption to create additional resources targeted, among others, at the EU's climate change goals and in particular the promotion of energy efficiency;
Amendment 390 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Calls on the Commission to considerassess and report on the role of energy companies in promoting energy efficiency and to proposinge effective measures to push energy companies to invest in energy efficiency and facilitate end-user energy efficiency improvements;
Amendment 399 #
2010/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Calls on the Commission to design the new EEAP taking into account the needs of vulnerable energy consumers; notes that such consumers would benefit the most from energy efficiency improvements but lack the resources to undertake the necessary investments;
Amendment 11 #
2010/2106(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s view that forests should be seen as a majorone of the main instruments in stemming the factors which contributore to solving the climate crisisclimate change, by capturing the CO2 in the atmosphere, for example; emphasises that sustainable forest management is of pivotal importance for the EU in achieving its climate goals, providing protection against extreme phenomena such as floods and delivering necessary ecosystem services, such as biodiversity;·
Amendment 27 #
2010/2106(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that European forestry initiatives should be aimed both at ‘adapting’ forests to climate change, rather than ‘protecting’ them, thus bringing the terminology into line with that more commonly used in other climate change policies and at monitoring and improving their protection;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2106(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need to respect the principle of subsidiarity and the role of local and national governments in forestry policy; takes the view that, owing to the diversity of the climate challenges facing different parts of Europe and to the disparities in forest ownership and the differences in ecosystem conditions and objectives within the Union, any common EU policy runs the risk of being too broad to be useful inshould adopt a framework approach in order to achievinge the necessary climate adaptation;
Amendment 51 #
2010/2106(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 α (new)
Paragraph 6 α (new)
6α. Acknowledges that, in many instances, wind parks can be set up in forest areas; considers that renewable energy source projects and forest protection are mutually complementary rather than conflicting measures;
Amendment 53 #
2010/2106(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges the importance of maintaining orand increasing forest resources, for various purposes, in the EU in the EU, since forests and woodland are associated with significant social, economic and environmental benefits. Measures designed to protect such areas should therefore focus on prevention and adaptation in such a way that they do not lose their productive and natural functions;
Amendment 74 #
2010/2106(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the need for enhanced coordination and information efforts within the EU and between the EU and the Member States, and takes the view that this could be achieved in part if the Commission were to bring all of its forestry-related activities together within one single unit, preferably within DG Enterprise or DG Agriculture.;
Amendment 77 #
2010/2106(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 α (new)
Paragraph 9 α (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to compile and monitor indicators at European and national level relating to forests and their functions (e.g. forest coverage, regenerative capacity, soil water capacity, erosion rates, areas for reafforestion, etc.);
Amendment 1 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that successful implementation of the 20-20-20 targets requires substantial financial commitment and new ways of supplementing existing financing for initiatives tackling climate change and energy challenges; encourages efforts by the Commission and Member States to find innovative means of financing through a shift towards basing taxation systems on carbon emissions asstresses therefore the added value of adopting new financial instruments which serve a dual purpose by striking a balance between, on the one hand, the creation of necessary new resources and, on the other, the formulation of basic policies regarding the functioning of the markets, green development and climate change; in this connection encourages efforts by the Commission and Member States to find innovative means of financing through a shift towards basing taxation systems on carbon emissions, implementation for taxation purposes of the ‘polluter pays’ principle and transfer of the principal tax burden from employment to environmentally pollutant sectors and activities; stresses that this would create revenues for the budgetary authorities and climate-friendly incentives to consumers and industry;
Amendment 10 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Acknowledges the divergent forms of carbon tax that already exist in some Member States and warns against the risk they pose to competitiveness in the Single Marin sectors not covered by the EU ETS and calls on the Commission and Council to taket and interference with the EU ETS; believes in the greater benefit of introducing carbon taxation in a coordinated manner; calls on the Commission to further examine possible instruments for coordinating carbon taxation for non-ETS sectors at EU levels their point of departure these practices at national level with a view to a substantial revision of the directive on taxation in the energy sector, seeking to introduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission criteria; believes in the greater benefit of introducing carbon taxation in a coordinated manner;
Amendment 14 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the main burden of the cost has been assumed thus far throughout the world by taxpayers; whereas there is a growing demand for financial institutions and stakeholders, that have enjoyed for years excessive returns on equities and in annual bonus payouts and accounted the biggest part of global corporate profits, to contribute their fair share to meeting the costs,
Amendment 20 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas EU response to the financial crisis consisted on implementing a new integrated financial supervisor architecture in order to limit the risks for a future crisis,
Amendment 20 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that any innovative form of EU- coordinated climate change taxation should have some of its revenues earmarked for financing R&D and measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions, stimulating energy efficiency and improving energy infrastructure in the EU;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 40 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines the important impact that financial speculation on commodities such as crude, gas and food supplies and financial practices such as high frequency trading have on the price of energy and on land use; considers therefore that a tax on speculative transactions could be an important tool to restore transparency and efficiency in energy market and land management and thus to achieve EU key goals on energy efficiency and climate change;
Amendment 58 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Stresses that in the aftermath of the crisis EU needs to convince its citizens that it has the will and the tools to go forward with a balanced combination of fiscal consolidation strategy with stimulus policies in order to safeguard a long-term economic recovery;
Amendment 62 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Recalls that the financial damage caused by tax evasion and tax fraud in Europe is estimated between EUR 200 and 250 billion every year; points out against this background that innovative financing should not only focus on new tools but also on substantial progress in combating tax evasion and tax fraud, which would have significant budgetary impacts;
Amendment 87 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that some EU Member States have already introduced similar types of taxes on specific financial transaction taxes, with no apparent negative impactspecific evidence of negative impact on the real economy; highlights morevore that in view of several Member States' announcing or intentions to move forward with national taxation on financial transactions or activities an EU coordination is the best way to proceed;
Amendment 95 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Is confident that the majority of the investors are reluctant to transfer their activity to opaque or unknown jurisdictions; stresses, at the same time, that the flaw of merely speculative transactions will not have detrimental effects but in the contrary may contribute to increasing market efficiency;
Amendment 98 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Underlines that an EU FTT in combination with the new financial supervisory framework can ensure significant transparency to EU financial markets and thus provide with a substantial advantage for EU competitiveness;
Amendment 108 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Deplores the recent Commission Communication, which comes down against the introduction of an EU FTT not on the basis of comprehensive, evidence- based research, but on that of the general argument of the competitive disadvantage for the EU economy; considers that the burden of the proof regarding possible drawbacks lies within the Commission;
Amendment 123 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. StressesUnderlines that for a number of major markets such as equities, derivatives, commodities, high yield debt and foreign exchange the burden of the tax incidence will be borne mainly by high frequency large scale investors such as hedge funds, as well as other big investors such as investment and commercial banks; stresses, however, the importance of comprehensive rules on exemptions and thresholds in order to ensure that the main burden is not transferred to retail investors and individuals;
Amendment 137 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Is aware of different options for the management of the additional revenues generated by the taxation of the financial sector at both national and European level; is convinced that in order to safeguard the European added value of the aforementioned innovative financing tools a substantial part of those revenues should be allocated to the EU budget to finance EU projects and policies; calls for a broad debate within EU institutions, national parliaments, EU stakeholders and representatives from the civil society on the choice regarding those policies, the determination of the part which will be allocated at EU level and the various ways of achieving this;
Amendment 144 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Fully supports Eurobonds as a common debt management instrument based on mutual pooling of parts of sovereign debt to safeguard low interest rates; calls on the Commission to move forward with an in- depth impact assessment regarding the feasibility of Eurobonds; believes that Eurobonds can ensure sufficient liquidity in the european bond market and will thereby contribute significantly to financial stability and the necessary consolidation of public finances;
Amendment 151 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Supports the idea of issuing common European project bonds to finance Europe'’s significant infrastructure needs and structural projects in the framework of the EU 2020 agenda and in view of anticipated new EU strategies such as the new Strategy on Energy Infrastructure Development; believes that this could provide the important boost for European interest projects which have today poor or no commercial viability due to the absence of long term market investments and become an important mechanism for maximum leverage of public support;
Amendment 172 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Believes that carbon tax and the revision of the energy taxation directive should set the minimum mandatory requirements for all Member States, leaving it to the competence of each Member State to move further on if it decides to do so;
Amendment 173 #
2010/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Underlines that adequate transitional periods should be foreseen in order to avoid carbon leakages and to prevent overwhelming burden to be shifted to the low income consumers; moreover considers it useful to foresee specific targeted measures in favour of low income households and to enhance investments in public sector infrastructure and in household’s energy efficiency;
Amendment 10 #
2010/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that the environmental and social costs of the decommissioning procedures should be borne by investors and factored in when deciding on the deployment of nuclear energy;
Amendment 16 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the new enhanced economic governance should fully integrate and reinforce the EU principle of solidarity, as a prerequisitive of the eurozone's capacity to respond to asymmetric shocks and speculative attacks,
Amendment 40 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the new EU economic governance should move forward from a strict budget surveillance function towards establishing a fair balance between investments in sustainable growth and full time employment on the one hand and the prevention of excessive deficits over the economic cycle, in line with Union-level commitments and guidelines, need to be persued, on the other
Amendment 49 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the recent economic crisis has made clear that excessive macroeconomic and competitiveness divergences and current-account imbalances within the euro area which increased steadily during the pre- crisis years and have largely persisted throughout the crisisdue to absence of enhanced economic coordination are not sustainable for the European economy and should be fully addressed,
Amendment 65 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas comprehensive secondary legislation needs to be established in order to attain the Union objectives in this area; whereas enhanced economic governance for the Union based on the provisions of the TFEU is essential, the Union method should be used to its full extent and the key role of the Commission and the European Parliament should be respected in order to promote mutually reinforcing polices,
Amendment 77 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
N a. whereas in order to avoid further expanding existing competitiveness divergences in EU and undermining the success of the new strengthened European economic governance as well as the EU 2020 targets on job creation and sustainable growth, the European fiscal consolidation strategy should fully take into account each member state's particularities and avoid a simplistic "one- size- fits- all" approach.
Amendment 100 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 1 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
Annex 1 – heading 1 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
– Establish common rules for a more active use of the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines as and the Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States as key tools for economic guidance, surveillance and Member State- specific recommendations in line with the EU 2020 strategy, focusing on growth, structural reforms, productivity and competitiveness, while taking into consideration the convergences and divergences between Members States, strengthening the relative competitive advantages of Member States, the resilience of the economy to external shocks and the impact that Member States' decisions may have on other Member States,
Amendment 150 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
Annex 1 – heading 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
– Establish a monitoring mechanism including possible warnings and incremental sanctions for Member States that have not reached their MTFO or are not approaching it at the agreed pace, avoiding however a simplistic "one-size fits-all" approach and taking fully into account each member state's particularities,
Amendment 165 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 7
Annex 1 – heading 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 7
– Establish pre-specified and pre-emptive incentives to be decided independently from the Council by the Commission or semi-automatic preventive sanctions, in order to facilitate early warning steps and apply them in a progressive way,
Amendment 205 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 4 – indent 1
Annex 1 – heading 4 – indent 1
– Establish a permanent mechanism or body (European Monetary Fund) as a last resort mechanism for member states exposed to serious economic difficulties in cases in which market financing is no longer available based on existing mechanisms (the European Financial Stability Facility, the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism and the European balance of payments instrument) with clear rules on the decision-making procedure, funding, conditionality for loans, monitoring, rules on burden-sharing, and resources and powers in order to facilitate borrowing and lending activity in exceptional circumstances and in order to facilitate orderly resolution avoiding contagion and ring-fencing sovereign debt insolvency, if needed.
Amendment 213 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
– Produce a feasibility assessment (the nature, risks and advantages) of establishing a system in the long run for the issuance of common government bondEuropean bonds, which acting as a common guarantee could significantly reduce loan interest rates for member states and help safeguard euro zone against future speculative attacks,
Amendment 222 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 3
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 3
– Develop a common budgetary strategy or guidelines for national budgets and the EU budget in line with the Europe 2020 strategy, keeping the balance between achieving budgetary discipline targets and enabling the financing of employment and public and private investment,
Amendment 231 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 5
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 5
– Establish a high-level tax policy group chaired by the Commission with a mandate to work for a strategic and pragmatic approach to tax policy issues in the Union, while paying particular attention to combating tax fraudromoting an enhanced common EU strategy against tax fraud assume international leadership to strengthen the fight against tax heavens with a clear timetable, reinvigorated the code of conduct on business taxation and facilitating the adoption of the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base and growth-enhancing tax reforms.
Amendment 235 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 5 a (new)
Annex 1 – heading 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 5 a (new)
– Believes that the review of the current EU tax policies should be focused on shifting the burden from labour to other sources and establishing a more fair income tax system across EU, especially for the low income groups of citizens; Considers therefore that EU should move forward with a European financial transaction tax and an EU-wide CO2 tax, which make "the polluter" assume full responsibility and can guarantee both significant budget revenues and a fair distribution of the tax burden.
Amendment 250 #
2010/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Annex 1 – heading 7 – paragraph 1 – indent 5
Annex 1 – heading 7 – paragraph 1 – indent 5
– Establish financial and non-financial sanctions for providing statistics, which do not comply with the statistical principles set out in Regulation (EC) No 223/09,
Amendment 7 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the global economic crisis has hit European industry hard, further exacerbating the already ongoing challenging processes of globalisation, climate change, demographic change and change to knowledge-based industrindustry based on knowledge and efficiency that are profoundly affecting industrial development, the workforce and prospects for the future,
Amendment 24 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Β. whereas maintaining global leadership of European industry is only possible through new technologies/processes/solutions, R&D, a sophisticated supply-chain, better efficiency and a smaller carbon footprint, strong human resources, good logistics and infrastructure, as cost-cutting is not the way forward for industry in Europe,
Amendment 70 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to develop, together with the European Parliament and the Council, a qualitative and, where possible, quantitative vision for European industry in 2020, which looks towards sustainable development in the long term and lays down guidelines, for example for energy and resource efficiency, with a view to ensuring that European industry becomes more stablein particular by promoting renewable energies and energy efficiency with a view to ensuring greater stability and competitiveness and jobs are created as a resultthus creating jobs, in particular green jobs;
Amendment 102 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that the new, integrated approach calls for extremely effective collaboration within the Commission, and, to this end, calls on the Commission to set up a permanent industrial policy task force to this end; responsible for analysing the state of EU industry on the basis of data it has collected and identifying current growth sectors and any future growth sectors that may be discerned on the basis of developments in our society;
Amendment 157 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for research expenditure for the upcoming programming period from 2013 (RDP 8) to be significantly increased (EU target for public funding: 1% of GDP). Notes that, alongside strongly process- oriented research and innovation, research in basic cross-sectoral technologies is needed and, in addition, that proceduresadministrative procedures and procedures for gaining access to funding must be simplified;
Amendment 186 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls that, representing as it does an annual 17% of GDP in the EU, public procurement is a powerful instrument for stimulating innovation; calls for public procurement rules to be simplified and for compliance with the principles of transparency and access to information to be ensured; stresses that it is essential to encourage the private sector to become more involved in innovation activities; points out that competitors such as China and the USA have set ambitious targets for public procurement of innovative and environmental products, and calls for similar target setting in the EU;
Amendment 224 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 1
Paragraph 14 – indent 1
- intensification of raw material recovery and reuse by means of ambitious recycling rules, appropriate support for research, and a stop to the landfill and exporting of waste that contains raw materials,
Amendment 281 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Is convinced that industry needs an energy policy focused on the long term which guarantees appropriatffordable energy prices and security of supply, allows manufacturing to take place without the release of gases damaging to the climate, and prevents carbon leakage; points out that the internal energy market is an asset when it comes to switching to low-carbon production and supply, and that the network infrastructure must therefore be renewed and extended, and smart grids promoted;
Amendment 288 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – introductory part
Paragraph 16 – introductory part
16. IDraws attention to the need for sufficient technical and skilled personnel; considers therefore that more investment is needed in the field of education and training; insists that every effort be made to redress skills shortages, by means inter alia of:
Amendment 291 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 1
Paragraph 16 – indent 1
- an institutionalised dialogue between the relevant authorities and the social partners with a view to reviewing syllabuses, so as to include the entrepreneurial spirit and increase awareness of business, and devising effective ways of completing the transition between school and the job market, particularly encouraging the promotion of individual mobility programmes such as ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs’ and ‘Erasmus for Apprentices’,
Amendment 297 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 2
Paragraph 16 – indent 2
- coordinated initiatives to improve the teaching of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at all levels, particularly to women, and to promote the exchange of best practice, coordinated initiatives to improve the teaching of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at all levels, particularly to women, and to promote the exchange of best practice in the fields both of education and of training, promoting exchanges of innovative measures to reconcile work and family life, and to promote equality between women and men;
Amendment 308 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 4
Paragraph 16 – indent 4
- . establishing, in cooperation with training bodies and the social partners, work-based vocational and occupational (re)training and lifelong learning programmes, both for workers and for employers; opening up and modernising universities to allow them to offer higher vocational qualifications (for engineers, IT specialists, technicians, etc.);
Amendment 340 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for a stronger, coordinated EU policy on lead markets, such as the environmental industries (some 3.5 million employees, EUR 300 billion turnover, up to 50% of the global market); stresses that many ‘traditional’ markets – steel, automobiles and shipbuilding, for example – have a strong capacity for innovation and/or offer comparative advantages, of which full use should be made; for these purposes, product-specific legislation such as the eco-design directive should be developed further, the directive on the eco- labelling of energy-consuming products should be fully implemented and industry-stimulating initiatives such as the ‘green car initiative’ put in place;
Amendment 355 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for efforts to be stepped up with a view to creating without delay a Community patent in orderwhich will provide effective, high-quality legal protection at low cost, and a harmonised European system for settling disputes concerning patents, to improve the framework conditions for industrial property rights, implementing a reform of standardisation methods and bringing about international standardisation in order to safeguard technological leadership;
Amendment 371 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the establishment of a task force on restructuring operations, composed of all parties concerned, particularly workers’ representatives, and a stronger role for the European structural funds in restructuring processes so that employees and firms can be offered a future; calls for research and development in furtherance of conversion processes to be intensified;
Amendment 378 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
22. Stresses the great importance of SMEs in the industrial landscape, in particular when it comes to providing long-term jobs at regional level, and calls on the Commission:
Amendment 463 #
2010/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – indent 3
Paragraph 26 – indent 3
• a particular focus on the key European industries – e.g. the automotive industry, renewable enersources of energy, energy- saving technologies, aviation, chemicals, food and the creative industries,
Amendment 14 #
2010/2087(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Supports the research into alternative energy sources and in particular renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy savings, which are essential prerequisites in order to face the challenges of climate change and to contribute to the global effort for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
Amendment 17 #
2010/2087(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reaffirms that EU security of energy supply policy is based on diversification of sources and routes; stresses the importance of the Nabucco gas pipelineEuropean Added Value and the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor and asks the Commission and Member States, together with their partners, to accelerate its implementation;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. CondemnNotes the fact that the principles of the Stability and Growth Pact were not always fully respected in the past; calls for unrestrictedmore coherent application of the Stability and Growth Pact, aimed at both ensuring fiscal consolidation and combating macroeconomic imbalances within the euro zone;
Amendment 36 #
2010/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls therefore on the Commission to put forward proposals to strengthen the Stability and Growth Pact by including specific targets for closing the competitiveness gap between European economies, for an Employment and Development Pact with binding targets for the Member States and for a crisis management scenario;
Amendment 38 #
2010/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Shares concerns about possible speculation against the euro; Recalls that the recent speculative attacks involving a sharp increase in spreads in corresponding euro zone Member States, with devastating consequences for the ability of those states to borrow money on international markets, triggered significant shock waves affecting the stability of the euro zone and the single currency; notes that the recent crisis demonstrates the need to create appropriate, permanent crisis management mechanisms to shield the euro zone against speculative attacks;
Amendment 41 #
2010/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Asks for a timely implementation of the Regulation on Credit Rating Agencies (No 1060/2009) and welcomes the Commission proposal on amending Regulation No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies of 2nd June 2010, but urgesat the same time calls on the Commission to go further and reflect on the possibility of improving the liability of Credit Rwith proposals for the more rigorous surveillance of the operation of these agencies and the creation of a European rating Aagenciesy;
Amendment 66 #
2010/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Warns that these austerity packages should not lead to measures which could dampen the economic recovery, which requires a new model of economic governance with instruments and a time schedule that will provide a balance between the process of fiscal consolidation and safeguarding the needs in terms of investment in jobs and sustainable development;
Amendment 70 #
2010/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines that the lack of credit reaching the real economy stemmed more from lower demand due to diminished activity in the real economy thand from the reluctance of banks to grant credit;
Amendment 83 #
2010/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Considers that the global financial system needs to be made less fragile and that lessons from the crisis must be drawn on a global level to improve the quality of risk management and the transparency of financial markets, reaffirming that their basic role is to finance the real economy;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the G20 set out that no financial institution, no financial product and no territory should remain outside the scope of intelligent regulation and effective supervision, and agreed that all standardised OTC derivative contracts should be traded on-exchanges or electronic trading platforms, where appropriate
Amendment 12 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas consumer protection and, transparency, efficiency and liquidity in the markets as well as competition on a level playing field were the key objectives when MiFID came into force, and whereas, following the financial crisis, limiting systemic risk must also be prioritised,
Amendment 19 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the inclusion in the MIFID of waivers to pre trade transparency requirements and the establishment of MTF and dark pools intended to facilitate a shift towards more regulated and transparent venues; whereas the fact that a significant part of market trading remains OTC trading underlines that this objective is not met up until now;
Amendment 39 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas broker crossing networks (BCNs) can provide different services to regulated markets (RMs) and multilateral trading facilities (MTFs) in so far as they are closed systems and a technological extension of the traditional, discretionary broker-client relationship; whereas there are also clear cases where BCNs undertake the same function as an MTF or a SI and for which MIFID rules should fully apply,
Amendment 49 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas apart from their high risks on market liquidity and safety the significant increase of HFT strategies have transformed the role of markets in financial instruments from a providing real economy with adequate capital to a speculative trade with severe consequences for public and real economies,
Amendment 61 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. underlines that OTC trade remains a significant part of the markets in financial instruments which leads to continuous lack of transparency and liquidity risks; considers that MIFID review has to deal with that through better restructuring of the waiver preconditions and redetermining the conditions under which a venue should be regulated as an MTF or an SI;
Amendment 62 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. welcomes Commission's proposal for a Regulation on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories as a necessary prerequisite to increase transparency and safety within the markets in financial instruments and considers it as the first step towards shifting the significant proportions of OTC trade to trade venues subject to MIFID regulation.
Amendment 92 #
2010/2075(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for an investigation into a suitable volume threshold above whichthe functional requirements which when met BCNs would be required to convert to an MTF;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1
Paragraph 1 – point 1
1. Calls on the Commission to submit forthwith a report on the use made to date of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund, setting out in particular a detailed account of how the appropriations were used by each Member State, the fundamental reasons for the limited use to date of fund resources and what proportion of overall funding they accounted for by comparison with other national and company-specific support measures; calls on the Commission to draw initial conclusions from that report and rapidly submit proposals for the improvement of the fund;
Amendment 5 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission, in the context of the projected review of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund Regulation, to simplify the procedure for the submission and evaluation of applications from Member States in a bid to reduce delays in the processing thereof and ensure that EGF mechanisms are more promptly and effectively deployed for the benefit of workers; calls on the Commission and Member States, with a view to simplifying and expediting completion of the necessary formalities, to consider the creation of permanent structures for the processing of EGF formalities at national level and the exchange of best practices at European level;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 2
Paragraph 1 – point 2
2. Calls on the Commission to put forward a proposal forthwith stipulating that firms that are making workers redundant and which recorded profits in past reporting periods must contribute in an appropriexamine, in the light of an impact study, ways in which a contribution to EGF funding can be made by companies generating disproportionate manner to meeting the social costs arising out ofd inadequately documented social costs through plant relocations and job cuts and securing the refinancing of the EGFresulting job cuts without substantially endangering the viability of the company itself;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 3
Paragraph 1 – point 3
3. Calls on the Commission to replace the EGF inexamine ways for the medium -term with a restructuring fund, financed by means of an EU-wide plant relocation levy and offering support to enterprises in proportion to the leconversion of the EGF into a restructuring fund not limited to providing assistance over a specific period for redundant workers but seeking to create new and lasting jobs through the steady labour market reintegration of those affected and the consolidation of local development in economic and social terms; takes the view that this will make it possible to combine successfully the functioning of the EGF operations with the basic objectivel of lasting replacement jobs created by themthe Europe 2020 strategy for genuinely sustainable development, thereby giving the EGF greater substance and greater long-term stability;
Amendment 17 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 4
Paragraph 1 – point 4
4. Calls on the Commission to introduce criteria by means of which the granting of EGF assistance can be linked as a matter of priority to restructuring measures designed to secure and create employment and , support lifelong learning, thereby making both workers and local economies more competitive, and encourage a return to ecologically sustainable and socially balanced development in the regions concerned;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission to take account of the major disparities between Member States and regions and to adjust the eligibility criteria so as to allow for greater flexibility in response to special circumstances and requirements;
Amendment 66 #
2010/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that in order to achieve an effective and sustainable response to the economic and financial crisis and secure full coherence to the EU recovery, the process of budgetary consolidation shall not endanger growth perspectives; asks therefore that the central objectives of the long-term recovery and sustainability of public finances shall be high and full quality employment and new job creation through adequate and well coordinated investments in infrastructure and knowledge, securing this way the transition towards a sustainable green and competitive economy;
Amendment 84 #
2010/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that the failure of several Member States to comply with the SGP criteria highlights the shortcomings of the economic coordination within the Eurozone but also within the EU; is therefore convinced that the only way to overcome the current crisis is through the strengthening of economic coordination and the establishment of a strong economic governance, aiming at reducing the current competitiveness gap between European economies and moving towards stable and sustainable economic and social cohesion;
Amendment 121 #
2010/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the current financial crisis has emphasised in the most clear way the direct link between financial markets stability and the sustainability of public finances; underlines in that context the need for a reinforced and integrated supervisory legislation on financial markets that should include strong mechanisms for consumers and investors protection;
Amendment 141 #
2010/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the Stability and Growth Pact was revised in 2005 in order to allow the de facto adoption of the principles underpinning a counter-cyclical macroeconomic policy, which have come into their own in the face of the crisis; in line with this revision considers it necessary to fully exploit the flexibility margins of the reformed SGP in order to ensure a return to sound public policies and at the same time secure high growth perspectives;
Amendment 149 #
2010/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that recent speculative attacks against several European economies had as their primary target the euro itself and the European economic convergence; in that sense is convinced that European problems need European solutions, which should consist on internal means to avoid any risk of defaults by combining national fiscal discipline with last resort mechanisms of financial support;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes it is vital to ensure a new Community framework with a suitable and sufficient budget in order to support public-sector research and make its results available in an accessible and non- bureaucratic form with a view to innovation by microbusinesses and SMEs, in the areas of energy efficiency, use of new energy sources and low carbon production processes, in particular the use of renewable energy sources, and recycling and betterrational use of resources and in the context of creating jobs with rights;
Amendment 40 #
2010/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that opting for energy efficiency can help boost industrial diversification and create jobs with rights on a large scaleactions which help to promote energy efficiency provide many social benefits by creating competitive jobs with rights, help the socially vulnerable by improving their quality of life and make an important contribution to social cohesion;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the recent events involving sovereign credit default swaps used by financial speculators, led to unjustified high levels of several national spreads and consequently severely endangered not only the sustainability of the involved national economies but also the stability of the eurozone altogether; whereas those events and practices underlined the need for further market transparency and enhanced European regulation vis-à-vis trading of credit default swaps, in particular of those connected to sovereign debts,
Amendment 197 #
2010/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls the Commission to initiate as soon as possible an inquiry at European level regarding the role and impact of speculative practices in connection to sovereign credit default swaps and their possible implications on the development of yields and to evaluate the need for promoting further regulation vis-à-vis minimum holding periods of CDS trading or banning acquisition of CDS which are not being used for hedging purposes;
Amendment 201 #
2010/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls, as a matter of priority, for credit default swaps to be made subject to independent central clearing andndatory reported to a European based trade repository and to be made subject to central counterparty clearing independent from key market participants or risk takers; calls moreover, if necessary, checked to establish whether individual types of derivative with cumulative risks should only be conditionally authorised or even, on a case- by-case basis, prohibited;
Amendment 222 #
2010/2008(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for any derivative from financial or non financial institution above a certain threshold (to be specified by the European Securities and Markets Authority) to be centrally cleared by a central counterparty;
Amendment 12 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Draft decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The stability mechanism will provide the necessary tool for dealing with such cases of risk to the financial stability of the euro area as a whole as have been experienced in 2010, and hence help preserve the economic and financial stability of the Union itself. The mechanism can be financed by, inter alia, innovative financing tools. At its meeting of 16 December 2010, the European Council agreed that, as this mechanism is designed to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as whole, Article 122(2) of the TFEU will no longer be needed for such purposes. The Heads of State or Government therefore agreed that it should not be used for such purposes.
Amendment 19 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Draft decision
Recital 4 g (new)
Recital 4 g (new)
(4g) The Commission should investigate the potential of a future system of eurobonds, as an additional mechanism for preserving the stability of the euro area, and in particular should look into the conditions under which such a system would be beneficial to all participating Member States and to the euro area as a whole.
Amendment 34 #
2010/0363(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Specification of the definitions of inside information and market manipulation is necessary to account for the specificities of wholesale energy markets, which are dynamic and subject to change. Coherence with other relevant legal acts of the Union in the field of financial services, which is also dynamic and subject to change, should be ensured to avoid regulatory gaps. The Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty in respect to such detailed rules.
Amendment 58 #
2010/0363(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) It is important to ensure that consumers can have confidence in the integrity of electricity and gas markets and that prices set on wholesale energy markets reflect a fair and competitive interplay between supply and demand.
Amendment 91 #
2010/0363(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Specification of the definitions of inside information and market manipulation is necessary to account for the specificities of wholesale energy markets, which are dynamic and subject to change. Coherence with other relevant EU legislation in the field of financial services, which is also dynamic and subject to change, should be ensured to avoid regulatory gaps. The Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty in respect to such detailed rules.
Amendment 139 #
2010/0363(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Regulation establishes rules prohibiting abusive practices on wholesale energy markets coherent with those applying in financial markets and with the competitive function of the energy markets. It provides for the monitoring of wholesale energy markets by the Agency.
Amendment 158 #
2010/0363(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 2 – point 1 – subparagraph 2
For the purposes of applying the first subparagraph, information a reasonable market participant would be likely to use as part of the basis of his decision to enter into a transaction relating to a wholesale energy product is information which, if it were made public, would be likely to have a significant effect on the prices of such wholesale energy products. Such information includes information related to the capacity and utilisation of facilities for production, storage, consumption or transmission of electricity or natural gas, as well as information which is required to be disclosed in accordance with legal or regulatory provisions at Union or national level, market rules, and contracts or customs on the relevant wholesale energy market.
Amendment 276 #
2010/0363(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Agency shall establish mechanisms to share information it receives in accordance with Article 6(1) and Article 7 with national regulatory authorities, the competent financial authorities of the Member States, competition authorities of the Member States and other relevant authorities. Before the establishment of these mechanisms, the Agency shall consult with these authorities. The Agency shall only give access to the mechanisms referred to in paragraph 1 to bodies which have set up systems enabling the Agency to meet the requirements of Article 9(1).
Amendment 59 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Existing Community legislation does not lay down specific rules ensuring safe and sustainable management of spent fuel and radioactive waste at all stages, from generation to final disposal.
Amendment 60 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16a) Radioactive waste, spent fuel and their storage and disposal involve major risks, as became painfully clear in Fukushima where severe accidents occurred in storage and disposal facilities; safety measures regarding radioactive waste and spent fuel should be tightened.
Amendment 67 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) There is a growing recognition in the Union as well as worldwide of the need for a responsible use of nuclear energy, covering in particular, especially after the recent serious nuclear accident in Japan, of the need for strengthening the rules regarding nuclear safety and security. In this context the severe issue of spent fuel and radioactive waste management needs to be addressed in order to ensure a safe, optimised and sustainable use of nuclear energystorage and/or disposal.
Amendment 72 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) While it is up to the Member States to define their energy mix, aAll Member States generate radioactive waste, whether or not they have nuclear reactors. Radioactive waste arises mainly from activities of the nuclear fuel cycle, such as the operation of nuclear power plants and the reprocessing of spent fuel, but also from other activities, such as applications of radioactive isotopes in medicine, research and industry.
Amendment 76 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The operation of nuclear reactors also generates spent fuel. Each Member State may define its fuel cycle policy considering spent fuel as a valuable resource that mayto be reprocessed, or deciding to dispose of it as wasteto be disposed. Whatever option is chosen, the final storage or disposal of high level waste, separated at reprocessing, or of spent fuel regarded as waste should be considered.
Amendment 79 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25 a (new)
Recital 25 a (new)
(25a) Spent fuels stored in pools represent an additional potential source of radioactivity in the environment, in particular if the cooling ponds are not covered anymore, as recently shown in Fukushima.
Amendment 101 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Although each Member State is responsible for its own policy on spent fuel and radioactive waste management, that policy should not only respect the relevant fundamental safety principles set by the IAEA43 but also impose the highest safety standards that reflect state of the art practices on the regulatory and operational level and Best Available Technology (BAT). It is an ethical obligation of each Member State to avoid any undue burden on future generations in respect of the historical and existing spent fuel and radioactive waste, as well as those expected from decommissioning of existing nuclear installations. Member States should therefore establish a decommissioning policy that guarantees that facilities are dismantled in the safest manner as early as possible after their closure.
Amendment 106 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) A national programme should be established to ensure the transposition of the political decisions into clear provisions for the timely implementation of all steps of spent fuel and radioactive waste management from generation to final disposal. This should include all activities that relate to handling, pre-treatment, treatment, conditioning, storage, and disposal of radioactive waste. The national programme may be a reference document or a set of documents.
Amendment 107 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 a (new)
Recital 34 a (new)
(34a) Workers along the whole chain of spent fuel and radioactive waste management need to be protected and covered, regardless of their activity or status; the long term effects on the health and safety of workers need to be considered in any management instrument for spent fuel and radioactive waste.
Amendment 108 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 b (new)
Recital 34 b (new)
(34b) When implementing this Directive, special attention must be given to workers at risk; non-compliance with health and safety legislation must be followed by immediate and severe sanctions.
Amendment 112 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Cooperation between Member States and at an international level could facilitate and accelerate decision-making through access to high quality expertise and technology, as well as to best practices.
Amendment 122 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) The safety case and the graded approach should provide a basis for decisions related to the development, operation and closure of a disposal facility and should allow the identification of areas of uncertainty on which attention needs to be focused to further improve the understanding of those aspects influencing the safety of the disposal system, including natural (geological) and engineered barriers, such as the region’s susceptibility to earthquakes, and its expected development over the time. The safety case should include the findings of the safety assessment and information on the robustness and reliability of the safety assessment and the assumptions made therein. It should therefore provide the collection of arguments and evidence in support of the safety of a facility or activity related to the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.
Amendment 129 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
(2) It ensures that Member States provide for appropriate national arrangements for a high level of safety in spent fuel and radioactive waste management to protect workers and, the general public as well as the natural environment against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation.
Amendment 142 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) all stages of radioactive waste management, from generation up to final disposal, when the radioactive waste results from civilian activities or is managed within civilian activities;
Amendment 144 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Amendment 178 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) to inform the public regarding national policies on spent fuel and radioactive waste management, in a way that is transparent and impartial, according to Article 12.
Amendment 216 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
(3a) The competent regulatory authority will have the powers and resources to regularly carry out nuclear safety assessments, investigations and controls, and where necessary enforcement actions in the facilities even during decommissioning. The health and safety of workers, including any sub- contractors, as well as staff levels and training are to form part of these assessments.
Amendment 219 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 b (new)
(3b) Member States shall ensure that the competent regulatory authority is empowered to order the suspension of operations in cases where safety is not guaranteed.
Amendment 220 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 c (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 c (new)
(3c) The competent regulatory authority will report to the Member States and relevant competent organisations, licence holders, workers’ representatives of the licence holder, sub-contractors and the general public regarding the results of their assessments.
Amendment 224 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
(2) Member States shall ensure that the national framework requires licence holders, under the supervision of the competent regulatory authority, to regularly assess and verify, and continuously improve, as far as reasonably achievable, the safety of their activities and- including the health and safety of workers and subcontractors and the safety of their facilities - in a systematic and verifiable manner. Licence holders shall report to the competent regulatory authority and other relevant competent organisations, representatives of their employees, subcontractors and the general public regarding the results of their assessments.
Amendment 229 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
(3) The assessments referred to in paragraph 2 shall include verification that measures are in place to prevent accidents and mitigate the consequences of accidents, including verification of the physical barriers and the licence holder's administrative procedures for protection that would have to fail before workers and, the general public as well as the natural environment would be significantly affected by ionizing radiation.
Amendment 236 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
(2) The safety case and supporting safety assessment shall cover the siting, design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of a facility or operation of spent fuels pools, a final storage facility or operation and closure of a disposal facility; the safety case shall specify the standards applied for this assessment. The long-term and post-closure safety shall be addressed, in particular how it is ensured by passive means to the fullest extent possible. The safety case and supporting safety assessment shall include an assessment of the health and safety risks for workers, including those employed by subcontractors, and of the skill levels and number of staff required for the safe operation of the facility at all times, so that action can be taken in the event of an accident.
Amendment 243 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that the national framework guarantees that adequatesufficient financial resources are available when needed for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, taking due account ofto cover all expenses related to decommissioning and the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, in accordance with the polluter-pays principle, i.e. the responsibility of radioactive waste producers.
Amendment 245 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that the national framework guarantees that adequate financial resources are available when needed for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, taking due account ofhereby fully respecting the responsibility of radioactive waste producers and the "polluter pays" principle.
Amendment 277 #
2010/0306(NLE)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – point 2
Article 14 – point 2
(2) concepts, plans and technical solutions from generation to final disposal;
Amendment 237 #
2010/0281(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Commission shall adopt, by with Article -12a, and subject to the conditions of Articles -12b and -12c, measures setting the list of relevant indicators to be included in the scoreboard. The list of indicators shall include the following sets of indicators: (a) internal imbalances, including private and public debt and its evolution; internal income inequalities; unemployment rates; and asset price developments with particular attention to real estate, and financial markets; (b) external imbalances, including current account composition and trade surpluses, balance and evolution; the evolution of export market shares in Union and third- country markets; and net foreign assets positions; (c) internal market developments, including a rolling average of five-year comparative real growth; an indicator of growth and employment dynamics including energy composition of the product and public and private research and development investment; and Union and third-country foreign direct investment flows.
Amendment 145 #
2010/0280(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) An assessment of the sustainability of public finances, including the debt level, debt profile (including maturity and private debt) and debt dynamics should be more strongly taken into account in the pace of convergence towards Member- State-specific medium term budgetary objectives to be included in the Stability and Convergence Programmes.
Amendment 285 #
2010/0280(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 1466/97
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Council, when assessing the adjustment path toward the medium-term budgetary objective, shall examine if the Member State concerned pursues an appropriate annual improvement of its cyclically-adjusted budget balance, net of one-off and other temporary measures, required to meet its medium-term budgetary objective, with 0.5% of GDP as a benchmark. For Member States with a high level of debt or excessive macroeconomic imbalances or both, the Council shall examine whether the annual improvement of the cyclically- adjusted budget balance, net of one-off and other temporary measures is higher than 0.5% of GDP. The Council shall take into account whether a higher adjustment effort is made in economic good times, whereas the effort may be more limited in economic bad times.
Amendment 112 #
2010/0278(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
Amendment 117 #
2010/0278(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4b) The Union priorities for growth and jobs in Member States respecting the Stability and Growth Pact or having taken corrective measures should be funded through revenues from unused payments appropriations in the Union budget and innovative financing instruments.
Amendment 211 #
2010/0278(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 b (new)
Article 2 b (new)
Article 2b Common eurobonds 1. Common eurobonds in the euro area shall be established with the aim of reinforcing discipline and compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact. Eurobonds shall be introduced only once the criteria in this Article have been met, including a comprehensive impact assessment. Eurobonds shall be established and shall function in accordance with the relevant provisions of the TFEU. Eurobonds shall not increase the quantity of debt. They shall be issued in exchange, at market price, of existing national bonds or in place of national bonds issuance. 2. The participation for the issuance of eurobonds shall be subject to compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact and shall be decided upon by the Council on a recommendation of the Commission. Member States shall participate only if they fulfil the criteria on debt and deficit levels as laid down in the Stability and Growth Pact. The Council may, on a recommendation of the Commission, on a case-by-case basis decide that a Member State facing exceptional circumstances can participate or continue its participation. 3. Eurobonds may pool a percentage of GDP of national debt of each Member State no higher than the SGP criteria. Common debt shall be senior debt and shall take priority to all other debts issued by the Member States. 4. Member States with a derogation may participate. 5. The issue of eurobonds shall be subject to robust institutional and administrative supervision in accordance with the highest standards and best practices of agencies currently managing sovereign debt in the Member States.
Amendment 116 #
2010/0276(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The debt criteria (including the private debt) should be better integrated in each step of the excessive deficit procedure in order to ensure the sustainability of public finances while maintaining adequate levels of public investments.
Amendment 130 #
2010/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The representatives of the Member States, meeting in the European Council on 13 December 2003, decided that the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), that was to be established on the basis of the proposal submitted by the Commission, would have its seat in a town in Greece to be, determined by the Greek Ggovernment to be Heraklion, Crete.
Amendment 155 #
2010/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36 a (new)
Recital 36 a (new)
(36a) The Agency should be able, upon request by a Member State or the European Union Institutions, to second concurrently up to 10 % of the staff for providing assistance and expertise in addressing network and information security matters.
Amendment 160 #
2010/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) The Agency should be established for a limited period. Its operations should be evaluated with regard to the effectiveness of achieving the objectives and of its working practices, in order to detn indefinite period and have a permiane the continuing validity, or otherwise, of the objectives of the Agency and, based on this, whether the duration of its operations should be further extended,nt mandate.
Amendment 207 #
2010/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 9
Article 5 – paragraph 9
9. The Management Board mayshall adopt the Multi-Annual Staff Policy Plan, after consulting the Commission services and having duly informed the Budgetary Authority.
Amendment 228 #
2010/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the implementation of the Agency’s budget.
Amendment 240 #
2010/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1
1. Within threfive years from the date of establishment referred to in Article 34, the Commission, taking into account the views of all relevant stakeholders, shall carry out an evaluation on the basis of terms of reference agreed with the Management Board. The evaluation shall assess the impact and the effectiveness of the Agency in achieving the objectives set out in Article 2, and the effectiveness of the Agency’s working practices. The Commission shall undertake the evaluation notably in order to determine whether an Agency is still an effective instrument and whether the duration of the Agency should bethe regulation should be revised to further extended beyond the operiod specified in Article 34ational capabilities of the Agency.
Amendment 251 #
2010/0275(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33
Article 33
The Agency shall be established from […] for a period of five yearsn indefinite period.
Amendment 158 #
2010/0251(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The notification requirements for sovereign debt should apply to the debt issued by the Union and Member States, including any ministry, department, central bank, agency or instrumentality that issues debt on behalf of a Member State or the Union but excluding regional bodies or quasi public bodies that issue debt.
Amendment 177 #
2010/0251(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Buying credit default swaps without having a long position in underlying sovereign debt can be, economically speaking, equivalent to taking a naked short position on the underlying debt instrument. The calculation of a net short position in relation to sovereign debt should therefore include credit default swaps relating to an obligation of a sovereign debt issuer. The credit default swap position should be taken into account both for the purposes of determining whether a natural or legal person has a significant net short position relating to sovereign debt that needs to be notified to a competent authority or a significant uncovered position in a credit default swap relating to an issuer of sovereign debt that needs to be notified to the authority.
Amendment 190 #
2010/0251(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)
Recital 16 a (new)
(16a) Sovereign credit default swaps should be based on the insurable interest principle. Uncovered positions in sovereign credit default swaps are used to take uncovered short positions on sovereign bonds, take liquidity away from the relevant bond markets and artificially increase borrowing costs for Member States with detrimental effects on their ability to refinance their debt in times of crises. Uncovered positions in sovereign credit default swaps should therefore be prohibited.
Amendment 341 #
2010/0251(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 374 #
2010/0251(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 b (new)
Article 12 b (new)
Article 12b Restrictions on uncovered credit default swaps A natural or legal person shall enter into credit default swap transactions relating to an obligation of a Member State, the Union or a legal person only where that person has a long position in the debt of that issuer.
Amendment 385 #
2010/0251(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) where a natural or legal person who sells shares or sovereign debt instruments on the venue is not able to deliver the shares or sovereign debt instrument for settlement within four trading days after the day on which the trade takes place, or six trading days after the day on which the trade takes place in the case of market making activities, then procedures are automatically triggered for the trading venue or central counterparty to buy-in the shares or sovereign debt instrument to ensure delivery for settlement;
Amendment 466 #
2010/0251(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. A competent authority, which has taken a measure under paragraph 1, may ask ESA (ESMA) to consider exercising its powers under Article 24(1)(c) if the adverse events or developments addressed require that the measure be introduced at Union level.
Amendment 133 #
2010/0250(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) At the 26 September 2009 summit in Pittsburgh, G20 Leaders agreed that all standardised OTC derivative contracts should be traded on-exchanges or electronic trading platforms, where appropriate, and cleared through central counterparties (CCP) by end-2012 at the latest and that OTC derivative contracts should be reported to trade repositories. In June 2010, G20 Leaders in Toronto reaffirmed their commitment and also committed to accelerate the implementation of strong measures to improve transparency and regulatory oversight of over-the-counter derivatives in an internationally consistent and non- discriminatory way. The Commission will endeavour to ensure that these commitments are implemented in a similar way by our international partners.
Amendment 221 #
2010/0250(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 53 a (new)
Recital 53 a (new)
(53 a) To ensure coherent and effective legislation and due to the close links between trading and post-trading, this regulation should be aligned with the Markets in Financial Services Directive (MiFID), which deals with trading in financial instruments. MiFID will determine the appropriate trading venue requirements to be imposed on the venues on which OTC derivatives as defined in EMIR, are executed. These requirements may include transparency, access, order execution, surveillance, robustness and system safety as well as other necessary requirements.
Amendment 258 #
2010/0250(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
(5) ’over the counter (OTC) derivatives' means derivative contracts whose execution does not take place on a regulated market, where all contracts are CCP cleared, as defined by Article 4 (1) point 14 of Directive 2004/39/EC;
Amendment 401 #
2010/0250(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
A CCP that has been authorised to clear eligible OTC derivative contracts shall accept clearing such contracts on a non- discriminatory basis, regardless of the venue of execution, to the extent that those venues comply with the operational and technical requirements established by the CCP as well as with its access and risk management requirements.
Amendment 668 #
2010/0250(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 964 #
2010/0250(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 68 a (new)
Article 68 a (new)
Article 68a The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) shall receive adequate additional funding to effectively perform the regulatory and supervisory tasks which are included in this regulation.
Amendment 11 #
2010/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) A dedicated financial instrument to support energy efficiency and renewable initiatives within the Sustainable Energy Financing Initiative should therefore be created to use the uncommitted funds under Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 663/2009. This financial facility should support the development of bankable energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and facilitates the financing of investment programmes in energy efficiency and renewable energy by local and regional public authorities, in particular in urban settings, as well as in mountain and island regions with valuable renewable energy potential.
Amendment 15 #
2010/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In compliance with Regulation (EC) No 663/2009, the facility should be limited to the financing of measures that have a rapid, measurable and substantial impact on economic recovery within the EU, increased energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These measures must contribute to the development of a competitive, connected and green economy, as well as to the protection of employment, in accordance with the 'Europe 2020' objectives. The criteria set out in Regulation (EC) No 663/2009 should fully apply to the selection and eligibility of the measures financed under the facility. The geographical balance of the projects should also be taken into account as an essential element.
Amendment 24 #
2010/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 663/2009
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. In compliance with Article 3(2), appropriations that could not be subject to individual legal commitments under Chapter II for an amount of EUR 114 million, and eventually other appropriations that become available as a result of total or partial non- implementation of the projects according to Chapter II shall be for a financial facility within the Sustainable Energy Financing Initiative, for the purpose of developing suitable funding instruments in cooperation with the European Investment Bank and other international credit institutions, so as to give a major stimulus to energy-efficiency projects and projects for the exploitation of renewable energy sources.
Amendment 30 #
2010/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 5
Article 1 – point 5
Regulation (EC) No 663/2009
Annex II – part I – paragraph 2
Annex II – part I – paragraph 2
The facility shall be used for sustainable energy projects in particular in urban settings, as well as in mountain and island regions with valuable renewable energy potential. This shall include:
Amendment 35 #
2010/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 5
Article 1 – point 5
Regulation (EC) No 663/2009
Annex II – part I – paragraph 2 –point c a (new)
Annex II – part I – paragraph 2 –point c a (new)
(ca) improvement of network infrastructures so as to limit energy wastage and incorporate new energy sources,
Amendment 52 #
2010/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 5
Article 1 – point 5
Regulation (EC) No 663/2009
Annex II – part III – paragraph 1
Annex II – part III – paragraph 1
The facility shall be limited to the financing of measures that have a rapid, measurable and substantial impact on economic recovery within the EU, increased energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These measures must contribute to the development of a competitive, connected and green economy, as well as to the protection of employment, in accordance with the 'Europe 2020' objectives.
Amendment 3 #
2009/2243(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that research and innovation, in particular as regards the development of low or zero carbon emissions and energy savings, are of critical importance for addressing global challenges, such as climate change and security of energy supplies and also improving competitiveness at regional and local level;
Amendment 10 #
2009/2243(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that the impact of these earmarked funds could be further improved through complementary use of, and better coordination between, regional, research and innovation policies, at both EU and regional and local level;
Amendment 1 #
2009/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
- having regard to the report containing a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on strengthening security and fundamental freedoms on the Internet (A6-0103/2009),
Amendment 7 #
2009/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas ICTs will act as a catalyst in achieving the specific target of increasing energy efficiency by 20% by 2020, a target which needs to be made legally binding at EU level,
Amendment 13 #
2009/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas ICT-based systems can reduce the energy consumption of buildings by up to 17% and carbon emissions from transport by up to 27%,
Amendment 48 #
2009/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that in the building, transport, logistics, lighting, electricity, refrigeration, heating and ventilation sectors ICTs may be used in a variety of ways to improve energy efficiency and energy management;
Amendment 64 #
2009/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that, if the goal of mobilising ICTs to ease the transition to an energy- efficient economy with low or zero carbon emissions is to be achieved, there must be universal direct access to ICTs; in this connection, points to the importance of making ICTs available under affordable conditions to less well-off consumers, in order to rationalise energy demand and consumption and thereby save energy and money;
Amendment 107 #
2009/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers it essential for the Member States to agree, by the end of 2010, on a common minimum functional specification for smart metering systems, with a view to providing consumers with information on their energy consumption and enablhich encourage decentralised production and energy efficiency, with a view to providing consumers with comprehensive and relevant information enabling them to monitor their energy consumption at all times and to adapt it to their needs, thereby helping them to manage it asmore effectively as possible;
Amendment 4 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the current economic crisis has led to reduced investment for innovation, given the shortage of liquidity; whereas, however, by creating a demand for low-cost, more efficient goods and services with a high added value for the final consumer, the current crisis is at the same time encouraging greater innovation and fundamentally contributing towards recovery and long- term sustainable development,
Amendment 12 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the European Union will not meet its energy and climate goals for 2020, and in particular its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, increase energy efficiency by 20% and reach a share of at least 20% of energy produced from renewable sources, without accelerating the development and widespread application of clean, sustainable and efficient energy technologies; whereas future innovation strategy should fully integrate this dimension,
Amendment 14 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Ea. whereas the promotion and development of sustainable technologies are not only essential for achieving the EU climate and energy targets but will also be of tremendous value to the Union in terms of future jobs and economic growth,
Amendment 20 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that the basic objective of future EU innovation policy should be to bridge the innovation gap between the Member States as revealed by the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) and the EU Commission’s annual reports on innovation progress in European countries, as an essential precondition for strengthening the overall comparative advantage enjoyed by the EU and making it more competitive with other world economies;
Amendment 39 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that investment in high-speed online networks and greater broadband penetration are basic conditions for increased and more effective dissemination of innovatory achievements and hence a narrowing of the innovation gap between EU regions;
Amendment 40 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Stresses the importance of ecological innovation and green enterprise, which can play a major role in linking innovation policy with sectors of key importance for the EU, resulting in major comparative advantages for the European economy;
Amendment 56 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 73 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls, likewise, on the Commission to makensure effective cooperation among the relevant internal services and directorates- general closer and more effectiveand to give coherent and comprehensive consideration to innovation issues;
Amendment 88 #
2009/2227(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the relevant Member-State and EU bodies to develop proven SME- financing tools such as microcredits, venture capital for young people seeking to invest in innovative enterprises, business angels to sponsor business projects by young researchers, loans and guarantees and to create tax incentives for investment;
Amendment 79 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that every EU household should have access to broadband Internet at a competitive price by 2013; believes that this result could be reached using a combination of different technologies to provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly broadband connectivity in a given area based on constant, high quality performance; urges the Commission therefore to carry out a review of the universal service obligations and calls on Member States to impart new impetus to the European high-speed broadband strategy, notably by updating national targets for broadband and high- speed coverage;
Amendment 83 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 122 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that, as Internet access rates are increasing, 50% of EU households should be connected to high-speed networks by 2015 enabling a reliable and improved end-user experience in line with consumer expectations and needs;
Amendment 157 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that one aim of the new electronic communications regulatory framework is progressively to reduce ex ante sector-specific rules as competition in the markets develops and, ultimately, for electronic communications to be governed by competition law only;
Amendment 171 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that all primary and secondary schools must have reliable, quality Internet connections by 2013 and high- speed Internet connections by 2015;
Amendment 173 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines the importance of broadband for European citizens’ health enabling the use of efficient health information technologies, enhancing the quality of care, extending the geographic reach of healthcare to rural insular, mountainous and sparsely populated areas, facilitating in-home care especially for seniors and people with disabilities and reducing unnecessary treatments and costly patient transfers;
Amendment 253 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recalls that Broadband can help protect European citizens by facilitating and promoting public safety information, procedures, disaster response and recovery;
Amendment 298 #
2009/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Emphasises that the great potential of the digital agenda is not only linked to the challenges ahead concerning the ICT sector, but is much broader and directly linked to EU targets for achieving a high- productivity knowledge economy, boosting the European economy's competitiveness through innovating industries, promoting social and territorial cohesion and universal access to public services, enhancing job creation within the European labour market and therefore promoting altogether a new sustainable EU growth model;
Amendment 41 #
2009/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that a precondition for promoting technology is the introduction of legal provisions to reinforce respect for fundamental values and for the protection of personal data and privacy;
Amendment 83 #
2009/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that the development of new applications and the actual functioning of the Internet of Things will be intrinsically linked to the trust that European consumers have in the system; recalls in this context the key role played by ENISA in the security of networks and information and, consequently, of the Internet of Things, which will help to reinforce acceptance and trust among consumers;
Amendment 101 #
2009/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that RFID technologies will, on the one hand, enable European industries to control the volume of goods in circulation (i.e. production only if necessary and, consequently, protection of the environment) and, on the other hand, offer an effective means of combating piracy and counterfeiting, as it will be possible to trace the goods concerned;
Amendment 122 #
2009/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission to strive to establish common international norms for the standardisation of RFID technologies and their applications with a view to facilitating interoperability;
Amendment 11 #
2009/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Consider effective and proportional sanctions to deter infringement of copyright and prevent the losses caused to rights holders as a result, while upholding the principle that, for example, communications providers are mere conduits and as such not liable for infringement occurring through or facilitated by their services;
Amendment 18 #
2009/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Make full use of sanctions available to it under competition and trade law where relevant, which must be proportional, given the need to take account of the difference between commercial piracy with profit as its sole objective and piracy for personal use, the impact of which is more limited;
Amendment 23 #
2009/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Include, where relevant, an evaluation of the impact relating to IPR, in particular with respect to small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those situated in less-favoured regions, in all impact assessments;
Amendment 29 #
2009/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Promote media literacy initiatives as an essential means of combating piracy and counterfeiting;
Amendment 2 #
2009/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Stresses that agriculture is a productive sector that is affected by the consequences and pressures of climate change but at the same time is also directly linked to climate change mitigation objectives, either by helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save and ensure the proper management of water resources, or by boosting production and decentralising sustainable renewable energy sources;
Amendment 3 #
2009/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1b. Points out that, even though it has made a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the involvement of the agricultural sector in combating climate change must also be incorporated into the wider food-farming- energy triangle; stresses that this involvement primarily concerns the improved exploitation of biomass - either by exploiting farming surpluses or by boosting the production of sustainable biofuels - whilst maintaining the production of quality products and high levels of food safety and guiding consumers towards a food model that will make a greater contribution towards the sustainable management of the environment;
Amendment 6 #
2009/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the production and use of biofuels, inter alia by promoting the commercial maturity of bioenergy and the sustainable production of advanced biofuels on a large scale, in keeping with the guidelines contained in the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan);
Amendment 21 #
2009/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the agricultural sector to make a considerable effort to increase decentralised production of renewable energy and, in particular, to improve energy efficiency on farms through modernisation and rational energy planning, as well as the use and implementation of tried-and-tested energy-efficient equipment and practices;
Amendment 22 #
2009/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that more extensive use of ICT could improve the monitoring of several phases of production and improve their management in order to increase production in relation to the use of the means of production and, simultaneously, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption; stresses, likewise, that the more extensive use of ICT, the integration of policies to promote training for farmers in new technologies and support for innovation and entrepreneurship among young farmers in particular are key topics, with a view both to making farming more environmentally sustainable and making the sector more competitive.
Amendment 24 #
2009/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that climate change does not affect all regions of the EU to the same extent, and it is therefore essential to give greater weight to those regions that are likely to suffer the most serious consequences; points out that the rise in temperature in conjunction with drought and extensive forest fires will create high risks of desertification in the countries of southern Europe, with all the attendant consequences for the viability of farms, the abandonment of farming areas, reduced biodiversity and the depletion of natural resources; asks, therefore, that all Community actions to finance agriculture's adjustment to the new challenges posed by climate change should take full account of this regional dimension so that climate change does not become a further aggravating factor in the economic and environmental disparities between the regions of the EU;
Amendment 2 #
2009/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes theat biowaste constitutes a significant part of urban waste production and that a huge unexploited potential in some Member Statesexists today to recover energy and materials from waste by diverting waste from landfills, possibilities which must be exploited at European, national and local level;
Amendment 9 #
2009/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that energy recovery from biowaste needs to be increased in the EU, contributing to the EU’s 20:20:20 renewable energy targetstargets regarding renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency and combating climate change, and also those set in the EU Biofuels Directive and the EU Fuel Quality Directive; recalls that the Renewables Directive supports the use of all types of biomass, including biowaste for energy purposes, as a renewable source of energy; calls, therefore, on Member States to consider energy recovery from the biodegradable parts of waste in their national legislation and urges them to share best practice ideas;
Amendment 2 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Whereas the effects of climate change are distributed unevenly even within the EU, the regions of southern Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean basin being more vulnerable, already suffering immediate and visible consequences such as intense drought and water shortages, widespread and devastating forest fires and the very real danger of deforestation and desertification; taking the view accordingly that the European Framework Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change must take full account of this territorial aspect of the problem and provide for the formulation and funding of policies fully adapted to the special needs of the southern European regions in order to prevent climate change from becoming yet another factor aggravating economic, social and environmental inequalities between the regions of the EU.
Amendment 4 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas climate change will inevitably have an impact on bothenergy supply, the external aspects of EU energy supplecurity and the demand for energy; whereas weather conditions such as heavy rainfalls, increasing temperatures, heat waves, droughts, severe storms, floods and fires can cause significant interruptions and damage to energy supply infrastructure, therefore directly affecting energy production and transport and distribution to final users,
Amendment 6 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the diversification of energy sources and distribution channels as well as energy suppliers is an important instrument in guaranteeing equal access to and adequate supply of energy, complying at the same time with the EU objective of enhancing the use of energy from renewable sources and reducing CO2 emissions,
Amendment 12 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that measures concerning energy supply and access to energy have to be defined in a context of solidarity among Member States and that the EU should contribute to a global policy shift towards greater energy efficiency and the promotion of renewable energy sources (RES); stresses that the EU must ensure renewable energy sources in accordance with the timetable set out in Directive 2009/28/EC, calls on the Member States to provide by 30 June 2010 theirambitious, comprehensive and realistic national action plans according to the models and parameters laid down by the EU, observing that the demand of each Member State for energy from renewable sources must principally be based on domestic consumption while the mechanism for the statistical transfer between Member States of energy from renewable sources must only be used where considered to be fully justified;
Amendment 13 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses also that in this connection immediate priority must be given additional measures to promote the Community strategy seeking to achieve a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020; considers it appropriate, also in assessing existing programmes of action for energy efficiency, to consider the possibility of making this objective legally binding at Community level;
Amendment 20 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point b
Paragraph 7 – point b
b. developing countries, to support their fight against climate change affecting the most vulnerable regions in their countries, always respecting the particularities of each region, the criterion being the social and economic development of those regions of the developing countries with which international cooperation is being organised;
Amendment 23 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Welcomes the recent Commission announcement concerning investment in the development of low carbon technologies (SET-Plan) clearly highlighting the inadequacy of market impetus and the fact that the innovative technological developments necessary to achieve EU energy and climate policy objectives presuppose immediate cooperation between public investors and the private sector; points out also that the EU roadmap for investment in these technologies must give priority to RES technologies and ensure the participation of all market stakeholders, especially SMEs, in energy efficiency programmes;
Amendment 26 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses in this context the great importance of initiatives at the local level to actively participate in the fight against climate change and points out the important role of exchange of information on good practices and appropriate information campaigns, in coordination with the more extensive initiatives undertaken by national authorities and by the EU. Points out also that the outlying regions can make a major contribution through the decentralised production of energy, helping to achieve greater energy efficiency through the reduction of grid wastage and better demand management.
Amendment 29 #
2009/2152(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that, in ensuring the successful implementation of the European Framework of Action for Adaptation, a decisive factor will be its inclusion in the context of a world-wide cohesive and ambitious agreement with legally binding objectives concerning measures to combat climate change and that the EU must take the lead in this direction.
Amendment 12 #
2009/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that, in order to foster a spirit of enterprise among students, it is essential, on the one hand, to enhance training for university academic staff in this sector through initiatives such as ‘lifelong learning’ and, on the other hand, to include in the curriculum ‘seminars-symposia’ with representatives of the business community, enabling students to obtain a real insight into the world of economics;
Amendment 15 #
2009/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Attaches great importance to knowledge transfer in an open environment; acknowledges that there are different instruments to achieve this, such as publications and seminars, technology transfer offices, regional cooperation, start- ups and spin-offs, collaborative research and mobility of researchers; believes, however, that the social and human dimension of interaction is extremely important; therefore strongly supports initiatives to foster face-to-face interaction between universities and business, in particular small and medium-sized undertakings;
Amendment 3 #
2009/2096(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that energy efficiency in the various modes of transport hascould increased over the past few years, resulting in a further in the years ahead so as to substantially reduction ine CO2 emissions per km; considers, however, and regrets that the relative improvements with regard to harmful emissions have been neutralised by a constant increase in demand in the transport sector, especially road transport; points out that urban congestion is responsible for 40% of CO2 emissions and 70% of remaining pollutant emissions produced by vehicles;
Amendment 11 #
2009/2096(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that only by using an interoperable transport system will it be possible in future to combine most successfully the use of various transport modes and improve energy savings; stresses, in this regard, the importance of internalising external costs in order to restore balance in the use of the various transport modes and to promote, where possible and necessary, the use of less polluting modes of transport;
Amendment 21 #
2009/2096(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the logistical importance of intelligent information systems and transport development; welcomes the various initiatives taken at Community level (such as SESAR, ERTMS, RIS and SafeSeaNet); calls on the Member States to step up their investment in infrastructure and, with the aim of making transport accessible to all, especially to persons with reduced mobility, and in intelligent transport systems, to promote the use of public transport and to introduce interoperable pricing with the issuing of multimodal tickets in order to optimise the use and interoperability of the various transport modes, to reduce energy consumption and improve safety;
Amendment 268 #
2009/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Before submitting them to the Commission, the Authority shall, where appropriate, conduct open public consultations on technical standards and analyse the potential related costs and benefits, unless such consultations and analyses are disproportionate in relation to the scope and impact of the technical standards concerned or in relation to the particular urgency of the matter.
Amendment 280 #
2009/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
The Commission may not change the content of the technical standards prepared by the Authority without prior coordination with the Authority, as set out in this Article.
Amendment 534 #
2009/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. The Board of Supervisors shall act on the basis of qualifiedsimple majority of its members, as defined in Article 205 of the Treaty, fccording to the principle where each member has one vote. For acts specified in Articles 7, 8 and all measures and decisions adopted under Chapter VI and by way of derogation from the first sentence of this subparagraph, the Board of Supervisors shall take decisions on the basis of a qualified majority of its members, as defined in Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 542 #
2009/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 362 #
2009/0142(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Before submitting them to the Commission, the Authority shall, where appropriate, conduct open public consultations on technical standards and analyse the potential related costs and benefits, unless such consultations and analyses are disproportionate in relation to the scope and impact of the technical standards concerned or in relation to the particular urgency of the matter.
Amendment 373 #
2009/0142(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
The Commission may not change the content of the technical standards prepared by the Authority without prior coordination with the Authority, as set out in this Article.
Amendment 673 #
2009/0142(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. The Board of Supervisors shall act on the basis of qualifiedsimple majority of its members, as defined in Article 205 of the Treaty, fccording to the principle where each member has one vote. For acts specified in Articles 7, 8 and all measures and decisions adopted under Chapter VI and by way of derogation from the first subparagraph, the Board of Supervisors shall take decisions on the basis of a qualified majority of its members, as defined in Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 676 #
2009/0142(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 685 #
2009/0142(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
With regard to decisions in accordance with Article 11(3), the decision proposed by the panel shall be considered as adopted, if it is approved by a simple majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors.
Amendment 44 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Natural gas (hereinafter: gas) is an essential component in the energy supply of the Community, constituting one quarter of primary energy supply and contributing mainly to power generation, heating, feedstock for industry and fuel for transportation. Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel and is a reliable and tried and tested solution for backing up RES technologies at periods of peak demand.
Amendment 57 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Sufficient gas infrastructure within a Member State and across the CommunityUnion is essential for tackling supply interruptions. CommonRisk and impact assessments based on a common methodology should ensure effective and efficient implementation of minimum criteria on security of gas supply should ensureand a level playing field for security of gas supply while taking into account national or regional specificities and should create significant incentives to build the necessary infrastructure and to improve the level of preparedness in case of crisis. Demand side measures such as fuel switching may have a valuable role to play in ensuring energy security where they can be applied quickly and reduce gas demand appreciably to react to a supply disruption.
Amendment 143 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Article 3 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall ensure coordinate theion among Competent Authorities at the CommunityUnion level through the Gas Coordination Group in particular in the case of a CommunityUnion Emergency.
Amendment 161 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. By [31 March 2011; 12 months from entry into force] at the latest, on the basis of the risk and impact assessment carried out according to Article 8, the Competent Authority, after consultation of the natural gas undertakings, of gas-powered generators, of the relevant organisations representing the interests of household and industrial customers and of the regulatory authority, where it is not the Competent Authority, shall establish:
Amendment 169 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) An Emergency Plan containing the measures to be taken to mitigate the impact of a gas supply disruption, especially for the most vulnerable consumers.
Amendment 270 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Amendment 308 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. The Competent Authority shall allow the natural gas undertakings to meet these criteria on a national, regional or Community level and shall not require that these standards are met based on infrastructure located only within its territory.
Amendment 334 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Amendment 336 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. The risk and impact assessment shall be repeated every two years before 30 September of that year.
Amendment 366 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. The Competent Authority shall immediately inform the Commission and the Gas Coordination Group and provide ithem with all the necessary information when it declares any of the crisis levels. In the event of an emergency which may result in a call for assistance from the EU and its Member States the Competent Authority of the Member State concerned shall without delay notify the Commission’s Civil Protection Monitoring and Information Centre.
Amendment 371 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 6
Article 9 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission shall verify within one week whether the declaration of an Emergency is justified and whether it does not impose an undue burden on the natural gas undertakings and on the functioning of the internal market. The Commission may, in particular, ask the Competent Authority to modify measures imposing an undue burden on natural gas undertakings and to lift its declaration of Emergency if the Commission considers it not or no longer justified.
Amendment 405 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. In a CommunityUnion Emergency, the Commission shall ensure coordinate theion of the emergency actions of the Competent Authorities. In particular the Commission shall ensure the exchange of information, ensure the consistency and effectiveness of the actions at Member State and regional level in relation to the CommunityUnion level, and shallmay ensure coordinateion of the actions with regard to third countries. The Commission may convene a crisis management group composed in particular of representatives of the industry and the Member States concerned by the Emergency.
Amendment 461 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) hourly flow of gas at all cross-border entry and exit points as well as all points connecting a production facility to the network, storage, LNG in mcm/dthe transmission network to a production facility, storage facility or LNG terminal;
Amendment 466 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) period, expressed in days, during which it is possible to ensureexpected that gas supply to the protected customers can be ensured.
Amendment 473 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 6 – point a
Article 12 – paragraph 6 – point a
a) Member States shall submit to the Commission the existing inter- governmental agreements concluded with third countries which have an impact on the development of gas infrastructures and supplies; before concluding new inter- governmental agreements, the Member States shall inform the Commission to assess their compliance with the internal market legislation;
Amendment 479 #
2009/0108(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 6 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 6 – point b
b) Natural gas undertakingCompetent authorities shall notify the Commission of the following details of the contracts of the natural gas undertakings within their territory concluded with suppliproducers from third countries in aggregated form: - Contract duration and extension provisions; - Contracted volumes in totalavailable, on an annual and monthly basis and the average volume per month; - Flexibility of contracted volumes, including provisions related to take-or- pay obligations. - Contracted delivery points.
Amendment 34 #
2009/0054(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii a (new)
(iia) if the date of the receipt of the invoice or the equivalent request for payment is uncertain, 30 days after the date of receipt of the goods or services;
Amendment 55 #
2009/0054(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 - subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 - subparagraph 2 a (new)
For the purposes of the first subparagraph a clause which exceeds the period provided for in Article 5(2)(b) shall always be considered as grossly unfair, taking also into account the criteria of Article 5(4).
Amendment 56 #
2009/0054(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 - subparagraph 2 b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 - subparagraph 2 b (new)
Any clause adding extra financial burden on the creditor as a prerequisite for claiming legal compensation due to late payments shall be considered as grossly unfair.
Amendment 57 #
2009/0054(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. The means referred to in paragraph 2 shall include provisions whereby representative organisations may take action according to the national law concerned before the courts or before competent administrative bodies on the grounds that clauses are grossly unfair, so that they can apply appropriate and effective means to prevent their continued use. This provision shall be without prejudice to the confidentiality clause binding representative organisations to their member entities.
Amendment 6 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) At the same time it is clear that the long-term strength and sustainability of the European economy depends on reshaping it to face the demands of energy security and th, the need to increase eneergy efficiency and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing concerns about securing reliable gas supplies reinforce this conclusion.
Amendment 12 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Since the current economic, energy and financial crisis has demonstrated the fragility of our energy choices, more incentives to invest in energy efficiency could help stimulate the economy and create new job opportunities.
Amendment 14 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) To have a tangible and substantial impact, this investment should be focussed on a few specific sectors. These should be sectors in which: (a) the action will make a clear contribution to the objectives of security of energy supply, energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; (b) there exist large, mature projects capable of making efficient and effective use of significant amounts of financial assistance and of catalysing significant amounts of investment from other sources, including the European Investment Bank; and (c) action at European level can add value. The sectors of gas and electricity interconnections; offshore wind energy; and other renewable sources; energy efficiency actions and carbon capture and storage fulfil these criteria.
Amendment 26 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) In the cases of carbon capture and storage and offshore windrenewable sources of energy, this Regulation builds on the Strategic Energy Technology Plan for Europe and the Directive on the promotion of energy from renewable sources, which called for a join and strategic plan for energy research and innovation efforts in alignment with EU energy policy goals, while committing towards the establishment of six European Industrial Initiatives, and in particular in these two areasout of which three (the largest wind turbines, with offshore wind as the lead application; large-scale Photovoltaic (PV) and Concentrated Solar Power; and a single, smart European electricity grid able to accommodate the very substantial integration of renewable and decentralised energy sources) are directly or indirectly linked to this specific area. The European Council at its meeting on 16 October 2008 called on the Commission to significantly accelerate the implementation of the Technology Plan. This Programme initiates the funding for Carbon Capture and Storage and offshore wind without prejudice to the future setting up of the six industrial initiatives on energy demonstration projects as outlined by the Strategic Energy Technology Plan for Europe.
Amendment 47 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) smart energy cities
Amendment 62 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) smart energy cities: EUR 500 million
Amendment 117 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21
Article 21
EEPR assistance shall contribute to the cost of those elements of the investment phase of the project that are only attributable to carbon capture and storage, taking account of possible operating benefits. It shall not exceed 850% of total eligible investment costs.
Amendment 126 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter II – section 3 a (new)
Chapter II – section 3 a (new)
SECTION 3a SMART ENERGY CITIES Article 22a EEPR assistance for smart energy cities shall be awarded following a call for proposal limited to the actions that realise the projects listed in the Annex, Part Ca (new).
Amendment 140 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) for smart energy cities by the Covenant of Mayors.
Amendment 150 #
2009/0010(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – point C
Annex – point C
Amendment 8 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas any European energy policy must pursue three main objectives in an integral and concomitant manner, namely security of supply and solidarity among Member States, limitation of climate change, and economic growth, strong commitment to and implementation of the Union's own targets for the limitation of climate change, and economic growth combined with solid benefits for all consumers in Europe,
Amendment 42 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reaffirms the threefold objective set for 2020 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, achieving energy savings of 20% and attaining a 20% share for renewables in primary energy consumption; calls on Member States to consider astart focusing on further reduction of 50 to 80% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and develop concrete and feasible action plans to that end;
Amendment 54 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on Member States, in the light of the growing risks which the EU is running in terms of energy security, to speak with a single voice; notes that their current practices are anything but geared to this aspiration; considers it imperative, in the interests both of solidarity and of the effectiveness of negotiations with a view to determining the international regulatory framework, for Member States to draw up a European energy policy in accordance with their competences: international relations, energy efficiency, combating climate change, regulation of the internal market, negotiation of international treaties, forward studies and dialogue with producers, and energy research; in particular, underlines that it is crucial to cooperate in order to secure a binding global agreement for tackling climate change in Copenhagen, so as to avoid "carbon leakage" and higher energy and transport prices for EU consumers and companies;
Amendment 100 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses its support for the Nabucco and the TGI pipeline project to diversify sources of supply; is concerned, however, about the progress of the project and the risks to sources of supply for the gas pipeline;
Amendment 115 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for optimisation of LNG facilities, particularly for regions of the EU which are isolated in energy terms due either to lack of infrastructure or remoteness; considers that new LNG terminals in countries which are major consumers and which are dependent exclusively on gas pipelines, such as Germany and the Baltic States, should be regarded as projects of European interest; in the same spirit, considers as a project of European interest the development and roll-out of renewable energy production plants throughout the Mediterranean EU countries, due to the great potential of renewable energy sources in the region;
Amendment 137 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission and Member States to draw up strategic guidelines intended for lasting application, while leaving it toencouraging private industrial undertakings to participate in their implement themation, striking a balance between market mechanisms and regulation; stresses the importance of finalising the negotiations on the legislative package on the internal energy market and calls on the Commission and Member States to set up an independent agency for cooperation between energy regulators, with strong powers, including powers relating to security of supply;
Amendment 168 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the EU to cooperate with the countries of North Africa in view of their significant energy resource potential and substantial opportunities for the development of Africa; asks the Commission and Member-States to make sure that the protection of the environment and the quality of life for the citizens of these countries will not be endangered;
Amendment 196 #
2008/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the need to include Turkey in the European arrangements for on-going dialogue with the Caspian/Caucasus region on account of the key role which it can play as a transit country; reminds at the same time its commitments as a candidate country for the alignment with the Acquis Communautaire;
Amendment 1 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas the European Union wastes more than 20% of its energy due to inefficiency and, if the saving objective of 20% were met, the EU would use about 400 Mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) less primary energy and the CO2 emissions reduction would be about 860Mt,
Amendment 2 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. Whereas energy consumption in combination with the national energy mix, which is mainly based on conventional energy sources, remains the main source of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union,
Amendment 4 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Whereas more incentives to invest in energy efficiency during a financial crisis, or recession, and volatility and unpredictability in oil prices could help stimulate the economy,
Amendment 15 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the action plans produced by the Member States; is, at the same time, concerned that the delays in submitting the plans and the contents of a number of National Action Plans point to deficiencies which might endanger the attainment of the EU’s energy efficiency and climate protection objectives; stresses that the emphasis must now be on effective implementation of measures focusing on energy efficiency, including the development of best practices and synergies, and better information and advice on energy efficiency to end users;
Amendment 28 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines that residential buildings are among the most energy-wasteful sectors and therefore urges that financial support for the energy performance of homebuildings be increased and existing financial incentives be compared with the commitments set out in the National Action Plans;
Amendment 32 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. stresses that energy policies in the National Action Plans addressing the residential sector should set as a priority the improvement of the envelope quality of dwellings where low income people reside, taking into account the fact that unpredictable fuel prices will seriously aggravate the economic situation of these households and may create serious social problems;
Amendment 43 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 46 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Members States to go beyond the minimum national indicative energy saving target of 9% by 2016 in Directive 2006/32/EC and set clear interim targets to achieve the final target;
Amendment 62 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Underlines the need for more comprehensive and clear commitments in the second National Action Plans in 2011 in order to create a favourable business environment and predictable investment conditions for market actors;
Amendment 67 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to conduct a scientifically based analysis of all the plans already submitted which is more detailed than the current analysis, to find out the reasons for delays and take strong action against further omissions;
Amendment 75 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Commission to establish minimum requirements for a harmonised template for the 2nd National Energy Efficiency Action Plans;
Amendment 77 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Calls on the Commission to develop common principles on methods to measure energy savings with due respect to the subsidiarity principle; notes that the need for quantification and verification of energy savings resulting from energy efficiency improvement measures is not only of interest within the scope of the Directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services, but also in relation to measuring the achievement of the 20% energy saving objective for 2020 and any other future energy saving objectives;
Amendment 84 #
2008/2214(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Urges the Commission to make energy efficiency and energy savings the cornerstone of the Energy Policy for Europe and to make the 20% energy efficiency target by 2020 legally binding;
Amendment 4 #
2008/2183(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses concern about the relatively limited amount of funds reserved for actions to tackle climate change and to improve energy efficiency and renewable energies; is convinced that much more investment is required in this area; considers that, in the light of the mid-term review of the implementation of the Structural Funds, increased financial resources must be allocated to serve these objectives; in this respect, calls on the Commission to present proposals to finance the construction of up to 12 demonstration plants with carbon capture and storage by 2015;
Amendment 1 #
2008/2171(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that China’s growing energy consumption andemands for energy and raw materials and increased greenhouse gas emissions represent a huge challenge to environmental goals and security of energy supply worldwide;
Amendment 5 #
2008/2171(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines China’s global responsibility to ensure its economic growth is environmentally sustainable; stresses that a positive approach by China will be critical for the success of negotiations on a post- 2012 Climate Change agreement; notes the threat of carbon leakage, particularly for the European Union industries that already adhere to legally binding targets, if China does not commit to sufficient action;
Amendment 8 #
2008/2171(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for enhanced cooperation between the EU and China to promote the transfer of low-carbon technology, in particular energy efficiency and renewables; stresses the critical importance of developing and deploying CCS in China, given the importance of coal to its economy; calls on the Commission to examine ways of supporting further the exchange of best practice with China on the issue of sustainable development;
Amendment 12 #
2008/2171(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to consider a formal agreement with China to promote cooperation on R & D; asks both parties to facilitate the transfer of technology and technical know-how by facilitating researchers’ and academics’ exchange programmes;
Amendment 16 #
2008/2171(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the formal launch of the High-Level Economic and Trade Mechanism in April 2008; hopes that it will contribute to better operation of the expanding commercial relations between the EU and China, as well as to the establishment of an open, transparent and non-discriminatory regulatory framework for business;
Amendment 24 #
2008/2171(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to work with Member States to give more support and protection for EU companies investing in China, in particular SMEs; calls on the Commission, the Member States and European companies to ensure that international labour standards and health and safety requirements are met when they conduct business with China;
Amendment 26 #
2008/2171(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls also on China to adopt and apply international standards; notes that this will ensure that Chinese exports to the EU meet acceptable quality and safety standards and ensure that EU companies investing in China gain fair market access with minimal bureaucratic obstacles and have a more transparent standards framework.
Amendment 4 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the global food crisis is among the great threats to peace and security in the world; in that respect welcomes the recent efforts of the Commission to investigate ways of tackling the global food security issue; calls on the Member States to support such initiatives at national and local level;
Amendment 9 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recognises that the agricultural sector supports the livelihood of the majority of the population in many developing countries, therefore encourages these countries to develop a mechanism of stable and transparent agricultural policies that will ensure long-term planning and sustainable development;
Amendment 13 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Believes that there is a need for further agricultural research, in order to increase agricultural productivity, and calls on the Member States to fully exploit the opportunities offered in this respect by the FP7, and to adopt measures that will improve agricultural output in a sustainable and energy efficient way.
Amendment 1 #
2008/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
Amendment 5 #
2008/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 16 #
2008/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises the importance of the use of CCS technologies for attaining the EU's stated climate targets after 2020Stresses that further exploitation of renewable energy sources and energy saving constitute the main means of attaining the EU's objective of reducing CO2 emissions, whilst at the same time recognising the importance of the use of CCS technologies;
Amendment 20 #
2008/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Endorses the view that construction of at least 12 demonstration facilities within the EU is necessary in order to achievquire the desired broadnecessary experience and assess to what extent their operation justifies expectations of further use of CCS technologies in power stations and secure CO2 storage from 2020;
Amendment 2 #
2008/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recognises that developing countries, and in particular the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States, are the most affected by and, at the same time, have the least capacity to deal with climate change;
Amendment 1 #
2008/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the need for a special, long- termenhanced cooperation and good neighbourly relations in the context of a strategic relationship between the EU and Russia, built on stability, cooperation and good commercial practice to be expressed in the New Partnership and Cooperation Agreement that is currently being negotiated - particularly with regard to energy, research and innovation, environment and quality of life issues;
Amendment 6 #
2008/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the importance ofat Russia is a large dynamic market for EU goods and services - there are many investment opportunities all the way along the energy value chain in the Russian Energy sector; emphasises therefore that it is very important to continue the enhanced dialogue with Russia on energy in the context of the established Energy Dialogue, in the light of increased interdependence, as Russia provides 25% of the EU's oil and gas supplies and the EU accounts for over 50% of Russia's oil and gas exports;
Amendment 8 #
2008/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that cooperation on energy should be based on the principles in the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) - in particular reciprocity on access to investments, markets and infrastructure- as well as non-discrimination, transparency and good governance; calls on the Commission to make Russian ratification of the ECT one of its key aims in negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; encourages the Commission to continue working towards Russia’s accession to the WTO;
Amendment 12 #
2008/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the need to secure access to diversified sources of energy supply and to enhance energy security and energy efficiency; calls on the Commission to emphasise in negotiations with Russia the importance of the planned Nabucco gas pipeline for the EU, and the EU's opposition to activities that might jeopardise itsearching and developing new energy sources, such as renewables and clean energy technologies; notes that Russia has already passed a Federal law on Renewable energy sources;
Amendment 16 #
2008/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that exploitation of energy reserves and related infrastructure will have a major impact on local environments and inhabitants; calls on the Commission to ask Russia to ensure that exploitation is accompanied by environmental impact assessments and evaluations of the impact on the population living in the areas concerned, and to guarantee the right of those individuals to maintain their traditional relationship with the land; encourages the Commission to pursue energy cooperation with a view to securing fair and accessible energy for the peoples of both sides;
Amendment 19 #
2008/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to insist that Russia decommission its first generation of nuclear reactors and improve the management of its nuclear waste; encourages the Commission to pursue close cooperation with Russia regarding nuclear security standards;
Amendment 2 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial television by the end of 2012 willis expected as a result of the superior transmission efficiency of digital technology to free up an unprecedented considerable amount of spectrum in the European Union, thus offering the possibility of reallocating spectrum and presenting new opportunities for market growth,
Amendment 10 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas spectrum shortage has been an obstacle to the deployment of new servicesis both a scarce natural resource and a public asset, and its efficient use is critical in ensuring access to spectrum for the various interested parties which want to offer services,
Amendment 14 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas broadcasters have shown good faith in the efficient use of spectrum by driving forward the digital switchover with significant investment in digital radio and television technology and programming,
Amendment 31 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that the digital dividend opens up sufficient spectrum for, offering broadcasters a significant opportunity to significantly develop and expand their services and at the same time to take into account other potential social, cultural and economic applications, such as broadband applications designed to overcome the so-called “digital divide”, in keeping with public interest objectives;
Amendment 52 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the contribution that the digital dividend can make to the provision of enhanced social services, such as e-government, e-health, e-vocational training and e-education, to citizens, in particular those living in underprivilegless favoured, isolated areas, such as e-government, e-health and e-education; rural and less developed areas and islands;
Amendment 54 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises that the main priority of the policy on reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe is to ensure that consumers' rights are fully respected whilst enabling them to enjoy a very broad range of high-quality services, taking account of the need to make effective use of the spectrum released by the switchover to digital;
Amendment 56 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that the digital dividend is also an important instrument in audiovisual and media policies which cshould be used effectively to promote and protect freedom of expression and cultural and media pluralism;
Amendment 75 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises the contributionimportance of the ITU Geneva-06 Agreement (Regional Radiocommunication Conference 2006) and of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07) to the reorganisation of the UHF band;
Amendment 82 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Acknowledges the right of Member States to determine the use of the digital dividend, but affirms also that a coordinated approach at Community level is the onlyone way to avoid harmful interference between Member States and between Member States and third countries;
Amendment 85 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Supports a common and balanced approach to the use of digital dividend, allowing both broadcasters to continue offering and expanding their services and electronic communications operators to use this resource to deploy new services addressing other important social and economic uses, but stresses that in any case the digital dividend should be allocated on a technology-neutral basis, whilst taking account of national restrictions justified on public interest grounds;
Amendment 88 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Stresses that spectrum policy has to be dynamic, aiming to promote future use of new technology and develop new services in order to achieve cultural and media policy objectives, meeting the evolving expectations of the public;
Amendment 91 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the potential benefits in terms of economies of scale, innovation, interoperability and the provision of potential pan-European services of following a coordinated approach and, wherever possible, of harmonising at Community level to common spectrum sub- bands of the digital dividend for different application clusters on a technology- neutral basis; encourages Member States to work together and with the Commission to identify such sub-bands;
Amendment 93 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. In order to achieve a more efficient use of spectrum and to facilitate the emergence of innovative and successful national, cross-border and pan-European services, supports the coordination approach of the Commission, based on three different clusters of the UHF spectrumat Community level, in close cooperation with the Member States and national regulatory authorities, taking into account the potential for harmful radio interference arising from the co-existence of different types of networks in the same band and the existing authorisations;
Amendment 118 #
2008/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to submit, as soon as these studies have been completed and, having consulted both the Radio Spectrum Policy Group and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations and taking due account of national specificities, a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council for the adoption of measures to reserve and, to submit the completed studies to the European Parliament and to the Council, taking due account of national specificities, with a view to the more effective coordinateion at EU level common sub-bandsof the use of the digital dividend;
Amendment 74 #
2008/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the importance of the role played by the advertising and marketing industry in nutritional behaviour and life style by promoting the image of excessively thin female models as 'reference models for perfect women', thus disastrously influencing women and young adolescent girls, and calls on the industry to play an active and responsible role when devising advertising spots;
Amendment 75 #
2008/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Expresses its strong concern about the problem of anorexia and the prevalence of this illness among women, particularly minors, and calls on Member States to take all necessary measures to implement an action plan to provide information about this illness and its consequences, with the aim of preserving the physical and mental health of women, particularly minors;
Amendment 2 #
2008/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Stresses the essential need to set up an EU-level platform for the collection, in close cooperation with the Member States, of the information required for the establishment of a reliable database on undeclared work within the EU, with due regard for the gender dimension and, in particular, the situation of women;
Amendment 4 #
2008/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that at least three groups of women are victims of undeclared work: first, women who have two or even three jobs; second, housewives; and third, female illegal immigrants who, owing to their economic and social circumstances, are obliged to perform undeclared work, inevitably under unacceptable conditions that make a mockery of the right to decent work;
Amendment 6 #
2008/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Amendment 14 #
2008/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Draws attention to the vital role of non-governmental organisations, trade unions and all stakeholders in the labour market, and urges Member State governments to involve such bodies in the introduction of effective strategies, to be formulated and implemented at all levels (local, regional, national and European) and within companies, to combat undeclared work through the establishment of a social dialogue at European level taking due account of the gender dimension and, in particular, the situation of women;
Amendment 3 #
2008/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the need to implement in practice Article 3, paragraph 6, of Directive 2003/54/EC, according to which Member States shall ensure that consumers receive reliable information about the energy mix of the electricity supplier and the environmental impact resulting from the electricity produced by the supplier's energy mix;
Amendment 14 #
2008/2006(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that it is necessary to guaranteeing supply to people with lower incomes is necessary in the light of increasing energy prices and to people who live in remote areas, owing to their small, uncompetitive energy market; considers it important that Member States take steps to define exactly this group of consumers;
Amendment 18 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the EU must deliver its greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy targets whilst maintaining a competitive and sustainable economy; believes that the development of low-cost, low-carbon and zero-carbon energy technologies is needed to reduce the cost of cutting emissions and create new markets for EU industry;
Amendment 27 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that cheaper, more effective low carbon technologies are criticalcan contribute to achieving a new international agreement on climate change to replace the Kyoto protocol regime;
Amendment 41 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
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;
Amendment 53 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology will be of critical importancet in tackling global climate change; calls on the Commission to include the 12 proposed CCS demonstration projects (the so-called EU Flagship Programme) within the EIIs; notes that support for clean coal technologies will make it easier and cheaper to deploy CCS;
Amendment 55 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes the importance of low and zero carbon transport technologies; calls on the Commission to assess and enhance support for such technologies;
Amendment 63 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that, given the priority attached to climate change and energy issues, significant additional EU resources for low carbon technologies are needed and should be deployed urgently, if they are to help to meet the EU's 2020 targets;
Amendment 65 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Encourages the Commission to urgently ensure adequate financing and support for new low carbon and zero carbon technology R&D, demonstration and commercialisation, so that from 2009 onwards, at least EUR 2 billion per annum of the EU budget is spent on support for such technologies independently from FP7 and CIP, also calls on the Commission to put forward proposals for additional resources in the mid-term review of the financial framework 2007-2013;
Amendment 69 #
2008/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that, under the proposed revision of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), auction revenues will provide a significant source of funding for new low carbon and zero carbon technologies; believes that businesses affected by the ETS should be involved in deciding how this funding is utilised;
Amendment 97 #
2008/0231(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 9
Article 2 – point 9
(9) "licence" means any authorisation granted by the regulatoryan independent body to the applicant to confer the responsibility for the siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation or decommissioning of nuclear installations;
Amendment 108 #
2008/0231(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that the regulatory body is effectively independent of all organisations whose task is to promote, operate nuclear installations or justify societal benefits and free from any undue influence that may affect the safety. decisions on safety issues. For this purpose, Member States shall ensure that, when carrying out the tasks conferred upon it by this Directive, the regulatory body is legally distinct and functionally independent from any other public or private entity, and that its staff and the persons responsible for its management act independently from any market interest and shall not seek or take instructions from any government or other public entity.
Amendment 139 #
2008/0231(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
They shall in particular ensure that the applicable principles, as referred in the Annex and laid down in the IAEA safety fundamentals are implemented to ensure athe highest level of safety in nuclear installations, including inter alia effective arrangements against potential radiological hazards, accident prevention and response, ageing management, long term management of all produced radioactive materials and information of the population and the authorities of neighbouring States.
Amendment 147 #
2008/0231(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall ensure that all third countries that wish to enter or are in the process of negotiating their accession to the EU will comply, as a minimum, with the standards set out in this Directive and the principles in the Annex, as set by the IAEA.
Amendment 131 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point d
Article 1 – point d
(d) national plans for increasing the number of surplus energy buildings and buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal zero;
Amendment 138 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point g a (new)
Article 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) the use of minimum levels of on-site energy from renewable sources in new and refurbished buildings.
Amendment 184 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 14
Article 2 – point 14
(14) "heat pump": means a device or installation that extracts heat or cold at low temperature from air, water or earth and supplies the heat to the building.
Amendment 274 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 - introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 - introductory part
For new buildings, Member States shall require the use of minimum levels of on- site energy from renewable sources and ensure that, before construction starts, the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of @the following alternative systems @is considered and taken into account :
Amendment 291 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7
Article 7
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that when buildings undergo major renovation, developers are required to use minimum levels of on-site energy from renewable sources and their energy performance of these buildings 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 or for the renovated systems or components 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.
Amendment 329 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall draw up national plans for increasing the number of surplus energy buildings, and buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero. 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.
Amendment 334 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Member States shall require their own buildings and the buildings of public or semi public authorities to be turned into demonstration projects for the use of energy efficiency and renewable energies and shall apply to these buildings the surplus energy standards from 2012 onwards.
Amendment 335 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 b (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 b (new)
Member States shall actively promote surplus energy standards for new buildings, from 2012 onwards. From 2015 onwards, for any building which undergoes a major renovation, Member States shall lay down the percentage of energy demand to be met from renewable energy sources.
Amendment 341 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the Member State's definition of surplus energy buildings and buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero;
Amendment 342 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) geographical information at national and regional level of existing on-site renewable energy installations on buildings or integrated into buildings;
Amendment 343 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
(cb) information on the percentage of public and semi-public buildings achieving surplus energy standards, and of public and semi-public buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero;
Amendment 344 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall communicate the national plans referred to in paragraph 1 to the Commission by 30 June 2011 at the latest and report to the Commission every three years on the progress in implementing their national plans. The national plans and progress reports may be included in the Energy Efficiency Action Plans referred to in Article 14(2) of Directive 2006/32/EC. Within three months of notification of a national plan by a Member State, the Commission may require the Member State to submit an amended plan, on the basis that the existing plan does not contain all necessary provisions. In that case, the Member State shall propose amendments which must be accepted by the Commission before the plan is adopted.
Amendment 347 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
4. The Commission shall establish common principles for defining surplus energy buildings and buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero.
Amendment 350 #
2008/0223(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 5
Article 9 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission shall publish a report on the progress of Member States in increasing the number of surplus energy buildings and buildings of which both carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy consumption are low or equal to zero. On the basis of this report the Commission shall develop a strategy, and, if necessary, propose measures to increase the number of those buildings.
Amendment 42 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The provision of accurate, relevant and comparable information on the specific energy consumption of energy-related products mayshould influence the end-user'’s choice in favour of those products which consume or indirectly result in consuming less energy and other essential resources during use , thus prompting manufacturers to take steps to reduce the consumption of the energy and other essential resources of the products which they manufacture; it should also, indirectly, encourage the efficient use of these products in order to contribute to the 20% energy efficiency target in the EU. In the absence of this information, the operation of market forces alone will fail to promote the rational use of energy and other essential resources for these products.
Amendment 51 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Only eEnergy-related products which have a significant direct or indirect impact on consumption of energy or, where relevant, of essential resources during use and which afford adequate scope for increased efficiency should be covered by an implementing measure, when provision of information through labelling may stimulate end-users to purchase more efficient products.
Amendment 52 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) Given that buildings account for 40% of EU energy consumption and that, in the context of its commitments in the Kyoto Protocol, the EU has set a target of improving its energy efficiency by 20% by the year 2020, it is essential to prioritise development of implementing measures for construction products, such as windows.
Amendment 54 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Incentives which Member States may provide for the promotion of efficient products might constitute state aid. This Directive does not prejudice the outcome of any future state aid procedure that may be undertaken in accordance with Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty in their respect; . However, State aid for environmental protection, and in particular energy efficiency, is a priori presumed to be compatible with the internal market and in particular with the Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection1, as energy efficiency is of Common European interest 1 OJ C 82, 1.4.2008, p. 1.
Amendment 62 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. This Directive shall apply to energy- related products which have a significant direct or indirect impact on the consumption of energy and, where relevant, on other essential resources during use.
Amendment 73 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – indent 5 a (new)
Article 2 – indent 5 a (new)
- ‘direct impact’ means the impact of products that actually consume energy;
Amendment 74 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – indent 5 b (new)
Article 2 – indent 5 b (new)
- ‘indirect impact’ means the impact of products that do not consume energy, but contribute to energy savings whereby the evaluation of the performance of these products shall be based on objective and independent parameters that do not present a climatic variation;
Amendment 78 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. Where a Member State ascertains that a product does not comply with all the relevant requirements set out in this Directive and its implementing measures for the label and the fiche, the supplier shall be obligMember State shall test three more products of the same type. The cost of the test shall be covered by the manufacturer of the specific product. In the case that non compliance is confirmed, to make the producthe Member State shall ask the supplier to recall the product from the end-user and indemnify him/her. The supplier shall also withdraw the product from the market until it becomes compliant with those requirements under the conditions imposed by the Member State. Where there is sufficient evidence that a product may be non-compliant, the Member State concerned shall take the necessary preventive measures. Where non-compliance continues within a precise timeframe, taking into account the nature of the product and its energy consumption. In case of persisting non-compliance, 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, the Commission and the other Member States shall be immediately informed.
Amendment 84 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – point 2
Article 4 – point 2
(2) the information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be provided in respect of built-in or installed products only where required by the applicable implementing measure;
Amendment 86 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – point 2 a (new)
Article 4 – point 2 a (new)
(2a) any advertisement of energy related products covered by an implementing measure under this Directive, shall provide end-users with the necessary information regarding energy consumption and namely include a reference to the energy label of the product;
Amendment 94 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. Contracting authorities which conclude public supply, works or services contracts as referred to in Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, which are not excluded by virtue of Articles 12 to 18 of that Directive, shall not procure products which do not meet the minimum performance levels laid down in the applicable implementing measure, and in any case never products labelled below the three best classes available in the market at the particular period of time.
Amendment 102 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4 a (new)
No later than 2010, the Commission shall carry out a feasibility study to examine whether the label through adoption of implementing measures should also provide information to end-users regarding the significant environmental impacts throughout the product’s entire life cycle.
Amendment 103 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4 b (new)
The Commission shall present to the Member States and the European Parliament, a list of priority products that have to be labelled before 2012, mainly based on their impact on energy consumption.
Amendment 106 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point d
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point d
(d) the design and content of the label referred to in Article 4, which as far as possible shall have uniform design characteristics across product groups; and shall in all cases be clearly visible and legible, and at the same time retain as a basis the current design of the label, which shall be simple and recognisable;
Amendment 112 #
2008/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point j
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point j
(j) the duration of the label classification(s), where appropriate; and the next date of their review, which can not exceed a 3 year time period.
Amendment 45 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) This Directive lays down minimum requirements and thus offers the Member States the option of introducing or maintaining more favourable provisions. The implementation of this Directive should not serve to justify any regression in relation to the situation prevailing in each Member State. Member States that have not already done so are strongly encouraged to take the appropriate measures to ensure equal treatment of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, in the public and private sectors, as well as for workers who do not fall within the definitions contained in Article 2 of Directive 92/85/EEC, so as to maximise the benefits of higher fertility rates and higher women’s employment. To that end tax incentives for employers should be considered.
Amendment 52 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point -1 (new)
Article 1 – point -1 (new)
Directive 92/85/EEC
Recital 15,
Recital 15,
-1. Recital 15 is replaced by the following: “Whereas the vulnerability of pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding makes it necessary for them to be granted the right to maternity leave of at least 14 continuous weeks, allocated before and/or after confinement, and renders necessary the compulsory nature of maternity leave of at least 8 weeks, allocated before and/or after confinement. In view of the recognition in some Member States of full parental rights for same-sex couples, Member States should take the appropriate measures to ensure that same-sex parents –either biological or adoptive- are not discriminated against regarding maternity, paternity, parental and adoptive leave.
Amendment 95 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – point 1 a (new)
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
1a. The following Article 8a shall be inserted: "Article 8a Paternity leave 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that a worker who has recently become a father is entitled to a continuous period of non-transferable, fully paid paternity leave of at least four weeks, of which all four weeks are compulsory, to be allocated before or after his wife’s or partner’s confinement."
Amendment 110 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 2
Article 1 – point 2
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 10 – point 4 a (new)
Article 10 – point 4 a (new)
(4a) Member States shall be encouraged to adopt measures that ensure that a worker may choose to work part time for a period of no longer than one year, with full protection from the possibility of dismissal and full rights to recover their full time position and pay at the end of this period.
Amendment 132 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 1 – point 3 a (new)
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11 a (new)
Amendment 160 #
2008/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 6a – paragraph 4 – point a
Amendment 168 #
2008/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 11
Article 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007
Article 6a – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 6a – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) The average wholesale charge referred to in point a shall be calculated by dividing the total wholesale revenue received by the operator of the visited network from each operator of a home network for the provision of regulated data roaming services in the relevant period by the total number of megakilobytes of data consumed by the provision of those services within that period.
Amendment 27 #
2008/0098(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The rules of Member States require that construction works are designed and executed so as not to endanger the safety of persons, domestic animals and property nor damage the natural or manmade environment.
Amendment 59 #
2008/0098(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 3 – introductory part
Annex I – point 3 – introductory part
The construction works must be designed and built in such a way that they will not be a threat neither to the hygiene nor health of the workers, occupants and neighbours, norand exert a exceedingly highlimited impact over their entire life cycle to the environmental quality nor to the climate, during their construction, use and demolition, in particular as a result of any of the following:
Amendment 60 #
2008/0098(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 6
Annex I – point 6
The construction works and their heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation installations must be designed and built in such a way that the amount of energy required in use shall be low, when account is taken of the climatic conditions of the location and the occupants. Construction products should also be energy-efficient, in other words they should use as little energy as possible during their life cycle.
Amendment 64 #
2008/0098(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 7 – point a
Annex I – point 7 – point a
(a) recyclability and reusability of the construction works, their materials and parts after demolition;
Amendment 54 #
2008/0018(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – part I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Annex II – part I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The packaging in which toys are contained for retail sale must not present risk of strangulation or asphyxiation caused by airway obstruction internal and external to the mouth and nose.
Amendment 55 #
2008/0018(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – part I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4
Annex II – part I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 4
Toys contained within food or co-mingled with a food must have their own packagingbe packaged separately so as to avoid the risk of migration of constituents or odour from the foodstuff to the toy. This packaging, in its supplied condition, must be of such dimensions as to prevent it being swallowed and/or inhaled. Toys in food should be clearly distinguished from the food itself, by colour, consistency and size .
Amendment 56 #
2008/0018(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – part I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 5
Annex II – part I – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 5
Toys firmly attachembedded toin a food product at the moment of consumption, in such a way that the food product needs to be consumeddecomposed or broken apart in order to get direct access to the toy, shall be prohibited.
Amendment 80 #
2008/0018(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex V – part B – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Annex V – part B – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Food products containing toys must bear the following warning, irrespective of the age of the child: “Warning: contains a toy”, or, where the toy is packed in a hazardous container: “Warning, contains a toy in a container which may present a choking hazard. Remove these items before giving the food to the child”.
Amendment 117 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The increased use of energy from renewable sources constitutes an important part of the package of measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and with further European and international greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments beyond 2012. It also has an important part to play in promoting security of energy supply, promoting technological development and innovation and providing opportunities for employment and regional development, especially in rural and isolated areas.
Amendment 163 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To ensure that the mandatory overall targets are achieved, Member States should work towards a an indicative trajectorymandatory minimum interim targets tracing a path towards the achievement of their final mandatory targets, and. They should establish a national action plrenewable energy action plan including information on joint target agreements, reference statistics, mandatory national final and including sectoralterim targets as well as sectoral targets. In addition, they should set out their measures to achieve these targets, while having in mind that there are different uses of biomass and therefore it is essential to mobilise new biomass resources. Assessments concerning the expected contribution of each renewable energy technology and a strategic environmental assessment should be included.
Amendment 174 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) To permit the benefits of technological advance and economies of scale to be reaped, the indicative trajectorymandatory minimum interim targets should take into account the possibility of a more rapid growth in the use of energy from renewable sources in later years. In this way, special attention can be given to sectors that disproportionately suffer from the absence of technological advance and economies of scale and therefore remain under-developed, but which in future could significantly contribute to reaching the targets for 2020.
Amendment 176 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) To further increase the use of energy from renewable sources it is necessary to create a truly functioning energy market, the external costs of energy production and consumption need to be properly attributed to the different energy sources. If all social, environmental and health care costs are properly take into account, energy from most of the renewable sources available today is already fully cost competitive and often cheaper than energy from conventional sources. Support systems for energies from renewable sources therefore constitute political instruments to compensate for the lack of internalization of external costs and for competitive disadvantages in distorted energy markets.
Amendment 179 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 b (new)
Recital 12 b (new)
(12b) Public support for electricity from renewable energy sources is based on the assumption that, in the long run, it can compete with conventionally produced electricity. Such support will be necessary to reach the Community's objectives with regard to its expansion, in particular for as long as electricity prices in the internal market do not reflect the full social and environmental costs and benefits of energy sources used. The Community Guidelines and policies for State aid for environmental protection should take full account of the need to internalise all external costs of electricity until fair competition has been achieved.
Amendment 181 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 c (new)
Recital 12 c (new)
(12c) When favouring the development of a market for renewable energy sources, it is necessary to take into account the positive impact on regional and local development opportunities, export prospects, social cohesion and employment opportunities, especially as concerns small and medium-sized undertakings as well as independent power producers.
Amendment 200 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) It is necessary to support the demonstration and commercialisation phase for decentralised renewable technologies. The move towards decentralized energy production has many benefits such as utilisation of local energy sources, shorter transport distances and reduced energy transmission losses. It also fosters community development (i.e. by providing income sources and creating jobs locally) and cohesion.
Amendment 230 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) The lack of transparent rules and coordination between the different authorisation bodies has been shown to hinder the deployment of renewable energy. Therefore the specific structure of the renewable energy sector should be taken into account when national, regional and local authorities review their administrative procedures for giving permission to construct and operate plants producing electricity, heating and cooling or transport fuels from renewable energy sources. A single administrative body responsible for all necessary authorisations should be established. This body should be installed at the level closest to the projects, preferably municipal or regional level. Administrative approval procedures should be streamlined with clear deadlines for installations using energy from renewable sources. Planning rules and guidelines should be adapted to take into consideration cost effective and environmentally beneficial renewable heating and cooling and electricity equipment.
Amendment 251 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30 a (new)
Recital 30 a (new)
(30a) Electricity producers who want to exploit the potential of renewable energies in the peripheral regions of the Community, in particular in island regions and regions of low population density, should benefit from reasonable connection costs. This is to ensure that they are not disadvantaged in comparison with producers situated in more central, more industrialized and more densely populated areas.
Amendment 348 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point b
Article 2 – point b
(b) “biomass” means the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances), forestry and related industries, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste as well as wastewater sludge;
Amendment 410 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. A Member State whose share of renewable energies fails to reach its interim targets shall be given effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties by the European Commission.
Amendment 430 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 583 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall achieve at least 80 % of their national targets through domestic use of electricity, heat and cooling from renewable energy sources. For the remaining 20 % of their national targets, Member States may apply the flexibility mechanisms listed in this Article.
Amendment 659 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
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 in new orand refurbished buildings. Any exemption from those minimum levels shall be transparent and based on criteria relating to:
Amendment 668 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) local limitations in the availabilitythe demonstrated absence of any kind of renewable energy resources.
Amendment 702 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that information on support measures is made availablewidely disseminated to consumers, builders, installers, architects and suppliers of heating, cooling and electricity equipment and systems and of vehicles compatible with the use of high biofuel blends or pure biofuels.
Amendment 705 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that information on the net benefits, cost and energy efficiency of equipment and systems for the use of heating, cooling and electricity from renewable sources is made available either by the supplier of the equipment or system orand by the national competent authorities.
Amendment 708 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall developensure that 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, shallow geothermal systems and heat pumps are developed in close consultation with relevant stakeholders. The certification schemes shall be based on the criteria laid down in Annex IV, which can be adapted if necessary in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Art 21(2). Each Member State shall recognise certification awarded bydeveloped in other Member States in accordance with these criteria.
Amendment 724 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Member States shall develop an accreditation scheme for training programmes or training providers for biomass, shallow geothermal systems, heat pump, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installers. These schemes shall be based on the criteria laid down in Annex IVa, which may be adapted if necessary in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 21(2).
Amendment 725 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Member States shall ensure that, from 2015 onwards, only installations performed by certified installers will be deemed as compliant with the requirements established according to Art 12(4) of this Directive.
Amendment 929 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 3 – point ba (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 3 – point ba (new)
(ba) in the Community in regions identified by the Member States as having low productivity.
Amendment 1043 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 2
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 provideroffered the opportunity to be certified by third party certifier. Certification shall be awarded to an installer as a result of an examination, including both theoretical and practical parts. The installer must have the skills required to install the relevant equipments and systems to meet the performance and reliability needs of the customer, incorporate quality craftsmanship, and comply with all applicable codes and standards, including energy and eco- labelling. The examination shall include a practical assessment of successfully installing biomass boilers or stoves, heat pumps, solar photovoltaic or solar thermal installations.
Amendment 1048 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 2 a (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The certification shall be specific to the relative technology/application: small- scale biomass boilers and stoves, solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems, shallow geothermal systems and heat pumps.
Amendment 1049 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 2 b (new)
Annex IV – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The installer certification shall be time restricted in a similar way as foreseen by the certification procedures for installers of ordinary heating equipment, or for the case of photovoltaic, of ordinary electrical equipment.
Amendment 1050 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraphs 3-10
Annex IV – paragraphs 3-10
Amendment 1062 #
2008/0016(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV a (new)
Annex IV a (new)
Amendment 29 #
2008/0015(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Carbon dioxide capture and geological storage (CCS) is a means of mitigating climate change. It consists of the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial installations, its transport to a storage site and its injection into a suitable geological formation for the purposes of permanent storage. So as not to obviate the anticipated benefits of CCS technology in terms of reduced carbon dioxide emissions, special care must be taken to ensure that this technology does not serve as an incentive to increase the number of generating plants fired by conventional fuels.
Amendment 36 #
2008/0015(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Member States should retain the right to determine the areas within their territory from which storage sites may be selected. The selection of the appropriate storage site is crucial to ensure that the stored CO2 will be completely contained for the indefinite future. A siMember States should thereforaccordingly be allowed to take account of their geological characteristics, for example seismicity, in the most objective and effective way possible in selecting storage sites. A site should only be only be selected as a storage site, if there is no significant risk of leakage, and if in any case no significant environmental or health impacts are likely to occur. This should be determined through a characterisation and assessment of a potential storage complex pursuant to specific requirements.
Amendment 63 #
2008/0015(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) The transition to low-carbon power generation requires first and foremost that new investments in alternative forms of energy such as renewable energy and, secondly, fossil fuel power generation are made in such a way as to facilitate substantial reductions in emissions. To this end, Directive 2001/80/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants should be amended to require that all combustion plants, for which the original construction license or the original operating licence is granted after the entry into force of this Directive, have suitable space on the installation site for the equipment necessary to capture and compress CO2 and that the availability of suitable storage sites and transport networks, as well as the technical feasibility of retrofitting for CO2 capture, have been assessed.
Amendment 78 #
2008/0015(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 3 – point 11
Article 3 – point 11
(11) ‘substantial change’ means a change which may have significant effects on the environmentterrestrial and aquatic environment, on health and on safety;
Amendment 85 #
2008/0015(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. A geological formation shall only be selected as a storage site, if under the proposed conditions of use there is no significant risk of leakage, and if no significant negative terrestrial and aquatic environmental or health impacts are likely to occur.
Amendment 100 #
2008/0015(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 8 – point 1 – subpoint b
Article 8 – point 1 – subpoint b
(b) the management of the storage site will be in the hands of a natural person who is technicfinancially, technically and environmentally competent and reliable to manage the site; professional and technical development and training of this person and all staff are provided;
Amendment 35 #
2008/0014(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) To further ensure a fair distribution of efforts between the Member States of the contribution to the implementation of the independent commitment of the Community, no Member State should be required to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 to more than 20% below 2005 levels and no Member State should be allowed to increase its greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 to more than 20% above 2005 levels. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions should take place between 2013 and 2020, with each Member State being allowed to carry forward from the following year a quantity equal to 2% of the greenhouse gas emission limit of that Member State and a Member State whose emissions are below that limit being allowed to carry over its excess emission reductions to the subsequent year.
Amendment 36 #
2008/0014(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
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 creditsall commit to greenhouse gas emissions mitigation efforts in developing countries and therefore shall ensure that at least 50% of these credits are purchased from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) so as to enhance the equitable geographical distribution of projects and enhance the achievement of a future international climate change agreement.
Amendment 47 #
2008/0014(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The continued ability for Member States to use CDM credits is important to help ensure a market for those credits after 2012. To help ensure such market as well as to ensure further greenhouse gas emission reductions within the Community and thus enhance the implementation of the objectives of the Community relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy security, innovation and competitiveness, it is proposed to allow the annual use by Member States of credits from greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in third countries, until a future international agreement on climate change has been reached, up to a quantity representing 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions of each Member State not covered under Directive 2003/87/EC in the year 2005. This quantity is equivalent to a third of the reduction effort in 2020. Member States should be allowed to transfer the unused part of that quantity to other Member States, provided that at least 50% of such projects are implemented in the LDCs and the SIDS.
Amendment 64 #
2008/0014(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Until a future international agreement on climate change has been concluded by the Community leading to emission reductions exceeding those required pursuant to this Article, each Member State shall, by 2020, limit its greenhouse gas emissions from sources not covered under Directive 2003/87/EC at a minimum by the percentage set for that Member State in the Annex to this Decision in relation to its emissions in the year 2005.
Amendment 88 #
2008/0014(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall ensure that their policies for purchasing these creditsat least 50% of these credits are purchased from the LDC and the SIDS so as to enhance the equitable geographical distribution of projects and the achievement of an international agreement on climate change.
Amendment 3 #
2007/2279(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Strongly recommends that efforts in the European Union should be aimed above allEmphasises the need to reinforce the actions taken by the Commission and the Member States, at European and international level, aimed at safeguarding the minimum standards that ensure the highest levels of environmental, health and safety protection and at adherence to the principle enshrined in the Basel Ban Amendment (Articles 34 and 36 of the Waste Shipment Regulation), which is to ban the export of hazardous wastes, even as part of an obsolete vessel, to developing countrie to developing countries; to this end calls on the Commission to propose a regulation on the design and construction of ships, their operation throughout their life-cycle and their preparation for recycling, the operation of ship recycling facilities and the establishment of an appropriate enforcement mechanism for ship recycling, incorporating certification and reporting requirements;
Amendment 4 #
2007/2279(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission toand the Member States to actively participate in the negotiateions within the International Maritime Organisation to ensure the adoption, in the forthcoming convention, of an equivalent level of independent control and enforcement to that adopted in the Basel Convention and in the Basel Ban Amendment and also the incorporation, with due consideration to labour conditions and the associated health and safety issues, of the aforementioned minimum standards that ensure the highest environmental protection;
Amendment 6 #
2007/2279(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States in the context of the IMO negotiations to propose the establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism that ensures clean, safe ship dismantling, especially in scrap yards in south Asia;
Amendment 8 #
2007/2279(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. In order to prevent the transfer of hazardous waste to developing countries calls on the Commission to encourage the building up of sufficient ship dismantling capacity in the EU and to publish a list of dismantling sites that fulfil the minimum environmental, health and safety requirements;
Amendment 9 #
2007/2279(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that efforts must be made by the Member States and the Commission to create a mandatory ship recycling fund to which shipowners wouljointly funded by shipyards and shipowners (for example by means of taxes levied contribute during the normal life of their ship and new ships, port fees and annual taxes linked to IMO registration) and with shared responsibility, which would facilitate the pre-cleaning of vessels of hazardous materials and the development of ship recycling yards in the Union, thus preventing the transfer of hazardous wastes to developing countries;
Amendment 11 #
2007/2279(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to ensure that all government ships are recycled within the Union and strongly encourages them to do likewise with warships;
Amendment 6 #
2007/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Prie instamment le gouvernement turc d'entreprendre avec diligence des réformes visant à la réalisation effective de l'égalité entre hommes et femmes, de la sécurité sociale, de l'élimination de la féminisation de la pauvreté et des violences envers les femmes et de l'amélioration de la participation des femmes au marché du travail, à l'éducation et à la vie politique, avec une diligence identique à celle qui a été accordée à la législation relative à la levée de l’interdiction du port du voile;
Amendment 1 #
2007/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to eliminate unnecessary administrative barriers that make access to the internal market difficult, to simplify and to improve the regulatory environment and to reduce the administrative burden on enterprises, particularly those operating in the environmental field, inter alia, by ensuring that progress is made on the 13 priority areas set out in the Commission's action plan to reduce the administrative burden and by implementing the second package of 'fast track' measures for removing administrative barriers;
Amendment 6 #
2007/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Especially stresses the need for sustainable and balanced development across the EU, both geographically and with regard to the scale of projects; believes that a truly balanced approach is the only way to stimulate the development of industry in the EU, provide new opportunities for job creation and promote successful regions within EU; believes that the'clusters initiative' can constitute a powerful lever for innovation and sustainable regional development;·
Amendment 17 #
2007/2206(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers, however,Points out that special legislation and quotas for women in science wshould be counterproductive and would possiblynot be regarded as createing a ‘second class’ of women scientists appointed to fill quotas, but rather than according to their skills and merits and therefore judged by their colleagues according to the same criteria; belias transitional measures with the sole aim of establishing and ensuring compliance with the principle of equal treatment for men and women with the same levels that such measures aof education, skill and merit where indeed unnecessary, since most Member States have more women than men and since according to various studies, women usually exhibit higher levels of persistence, hard work, motivation and determination than men, these being the key factors leading to success in all areas, including scientific communityntical scientific posts are concerned, at the selection as well as the recruitment stage and also throughout their professional career, to enable them to pursue further training courses and obtain promotion in their professions based on their merit, and ensure compliance with the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’.
Amendment 15 #
2007/2118(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers it advisable, by means of the environmental impact survey, to establish environmental indicators to assess the current state of the marine environment and monitor the probable impact at the construction, operation and finalisation stages of the project.
Amendment 175 #
2007/0249(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
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.
Amendment 89 #
2007/0247(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
Amendment 111 #
2007/0247(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 5 a (new)
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 and therefore a combined policy and market approach is needed.
Amendment 114 #
2007/0247(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 5 b (new)
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 public policy objectives, culture, employment, the environment, social cohesion, regional development and town and country planning.
Amendment 161 #
2007/0247(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 31
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 (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.
Amendment 282 #
2007/0247(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 1 – point 6 a (new)
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article -7a (new)
Article -7a (new)
Amendment 54 #
2007/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council no more that four years from the effective start of the operation of the Agency and every five years thereafter a report on the specific tasks performed and the results achieved by the Agency, accompanied by appropriate proposals for the improvement of its functioning.
Amendment 108 #
2007/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The Agency shall provide a duly justified opinion to the Commission where it considers that the draft annual work programme or the draft 10-year investment plan submitted to it in accordance with Article 2d(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003 and Article 2d(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005 do not ensure non- discrimination in particular to those of low income and those of isolated regions, effective competition and the secure and efficient functioning of the market.
Amendment 138 #
2007/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8a Monitoring and reporting on the energy sector 1. The Agency shall monitor developments in the gas and electricity markets, and in particular the retail prices of gas and electricity and the observance of consumers' rights set out in Directive 2003/55/EC and Directive 2003/54/EC. 2. The Agency shall publish an annual report on developments in the gas and electricity markets and on consumer issues. These reports shall identify any remaining barriers to the proper functioning of the internal market in electricity and gas and also the needs of vulnerable consumers. 3. When publishing its annual report, the Agency may submit to the European Parliament and to the Commission, an opinion on the measures that might be taken to remove any barriers and to improve the situation of vulnerable consumers as referred to in paragraph 2.
Amendment 146 #
2007/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The Administrative Board shall be composed of twelve members and all the Member States shall be represented by rotation. Six shall be appointed by the Commission, and six by the Council. The term of office shall be five years, renewable once.
Amendment 235 #
2007/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. The Director shall be appointed by the Administrative Board, on the basis of merit as well as skills and experience related to the energy sector, from a list of at least two candidates proposed by the Commission, following a call for expression of interest and after requesting the assent of the Board of Regulators. Before appointment, the candidate selected by the Administrative Board may be invited to make a statement before the competent committee of the European Parliament and answer questions put by its members.
Amendment 250 #
2007/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 7
Article 13 – paragraph 7
7. The Director may be removed from office only upon a decision by the Administrative Board, after consultinghaving 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.
Amendment 65 #
2007/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) In complying with the regulations on effective and efficient legal unbundling, and provided that the network undertaking performs all the functions of the network operator and detailed regulation and extensive regulatory control mechanisms are put in place, vertically integrated undertakings may maintain their ownership of network assets whilst at the same time ensuring an effective separation of interests.
Amendment 71 #
2007/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 11
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, and effective and efficient legal unbundling of transmission system operators. 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.
Amendment 200 #
2007/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 7 – paragraph –1 (new)
Article 7 – paragraph –1 (new)
Amendment 273 #
2007/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 1 – point 8 a (new)
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 9 b (new)
Article 9 b (new)
Amendment 556 #
2007/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council annually on the formal and practical implementation of this Directive in each Member State.
Amendment 558 #
2007/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Six years after the entry into force of this Directive, the Commission shall, on the basis of public consultations, in the light of discussions with the competent authorities and after having received an opinion by the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, report to the European Parliament and the Council on the desirability of maintaining or amending this Directive. The several versions of restructuring gas companies laid down in Articles 7a to 7d and Articles 9 and 9b of Directive 2003/55/EC shall be verified, in particular, in terms of the effectiveness of their impact on network access and the necessary investments.
Amendment 113 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Complying with the regulations on an effective and efficient legal unbundling and provided that the network undertaking performs all the functions of the network operator and a detailed regulation and extensive regulatory control mechanism are put in place, vertical integrated undertakings may remain the owner of their network assets and ensure an effective separation of interests at the same time.
Amendment 122 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 11
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 and effective and efficient legal unbundling of transmission system operators. 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.
Amendment 141 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The public service requirements and the common minimum standards that follow from them need to be further strengthened to make sure that all consumers can benefit from competitionespecially the vulnerable ones can benefit from competition. The public service requirements can be interpreted on a national basis, taking into account national circumstances, however, at the same time the Community law and the common minimum standards must be respected by Member States. EU citizens, especially households, and EU industry, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), should be able to enjoy public service guarantees, in particular with regard to security of supply and reasonable tariffs. A key aspect in supplying customers is access to consumption data, and consumers must have access to their data so that they can invite competitors to make an offer based on these data. Consumers also should have the right to be properly informed about their energy consumption. Regularly provided information on energy costs based on common criteria will create incentives for energy savings because it will give customers direct feedback on the effects of investment in energy efficiency and change of behaviour.
Amendment 180 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 1 i (new)
Article 1 – point 1 i (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 7
Article 3 – paragraph 7
Amendment 226 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
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 have to comply either with the following points (a) to (d) or with Article 10 or with the provisions of Article 10b:
Amendment 303 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 1 – point 8 a (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 10 b (new)
Article 10 b (new)
Amendment 353 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Article 1 – point 12
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 22a – paragraph 3 – point (b)
Article 22a – paragraph 3 – point (b)
(b) its management is appointed for a non renewable fixed term of at least five years renewable once only, and may only be relieved from office during its term if it no longer fulfils the conditions set out in this Article or it has been guilty of serious misconduct.
Amendment 388 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Article 1 – point 12
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 22c – paragraph 1 – point (f)
Article 22c – paragraph 1 – point (f)
(f) reviewing investment plans of the transmission system operators, and providing in its annual report an assessment of the investment plan of the transmission system operators as regards its consistency with the European-wide 10- year network development plan mentioned in Article 2c(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003; the 10-year investment plan shall create incentives for the promotion of investments, especially in small and non profitable energy markets, and ensure that the quality and numbers of the workforce are sufficient to deliver service obligations; failure to honour the 10-year investment plan shall result in proportionate sanctions imposed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Agency;
Amendment 426 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Article 1 – point 12
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 22c – paragraph 1 – point (o)
Article 22c – paragraph 1 – point (o)
(o) monitoring investment in generation capacities in relation to security of supply and giving priority to investments that concern small and non profitable markets such as isolated regions.
Amendment 548 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14 d (new)
Article 1 – point 14 d (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Annex A – point (c)
Annex A – point (c)
Amendment 574 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council annually on the formal and practical implementation of this Directive in each Member State."
Amendment 575 #
2007/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. On the basis of public consultations and of discussions with the competent authorities and after having received an opinion by the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, and six years following the entry into force of this Directive, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the desirability of maintaining or amending this Directive. The several versions of restructuring electricity companies laid down in Articles 8a to 8d, 10 and 10b of Directive 2003/54/EC shall be verified in particular in terms of the effectiveness of their impact on network access and the necessary investments.
Amendment 12 #
2007/0121(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The benefits for enterprises will increase as more countries in the world adopt the GHS criteria in their legislation. The Community should be at the forefront of this process to encourage other countries to follow and to provide a competitive advantage to industry in the Community and in particular to small and medium- sized enterprises.
Amendment 13 #
2007/0121(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) This Regulation should replace Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances as well as Directive 1999/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 1999 concerning the approximation of the law, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations . It should maintain the overall current level of protection of human health and the environment provided by those Directives. Therefore, some hazard classes which are covered by those Directives but are not yet included in the GHS, for example those related to the destruction of the ozone layer, should be maintained in this Regulation. It is also necessary to maintain in this Regulation the concept of “dangerous” as defined by those Directives, which does not include those hazard classes which are part of the GHS but are not covered by Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, to minimise effects on other pieces of Community legislation referring to that concept.
Amendment 14 #
2007/0121(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) To ensure information on and protection from hazardous substances when they are included in mixtures, mixtures should also be labelled, where appropriate, when they contain at least one substance that is classified as hazardous, even if the mixtures themselves are not classified as hazardous.
Amendment 15 #
2007/0121(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) To ensure adequate classification of mixtures, available information on synergistic and antagonistic effects (of their ingredients) should be taken into account for the classification of mixtures(deletion).
Amendment 16 #
2007/0121(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 44
Recital 44
(44) Resources of the authorities should be focused on substances of the highest concern with regard to health and the environment. Provision should therefore be made to enable competent authorities or suppliers to submit proposals to the Agency for a harmonised classification of substances classified for carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity or reproductive toxicity categories 1A or 1B, for respiratory sensitisation, or in respect of other effects on a case-by-case basis. The Agency should give its opinion on the proposal while interested parties should have an opportunity to comment. The Commission should decide on the final classification.
Amendment 26 #
2007/0121(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 48 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 48 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Advertising for a substance and/or mixture must seek to provide accurate and impartial information and not to mislead final users.