25 Amendments of Frédérique RIES related to 2021/0206(COD)
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Mobility poverty has no clear Union-level or national definitions are available. However, the problem is becoming more pressing to address as a result of the increasing phase-out requirements for combustion engine vehicles, high fuel prices, or high dependencies on transport availability, accessibility and costs to go to work or for daily mobility needs due to living in rural, insular, outermost regions, mountainous, remote and less accessible areas or for less developed regions or territories, including less developed peri-urban areas.
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Pending the impact of those investments on reducing costs and emissions, well targeted direct income support for the most vulnerable would help the just transition. Such support should be understood to be a temporary measure accompanying the decarbonisation of the housing and transport sectors. It would not be permanent as it does not address the root causes of energy and transport poverty. Such support should omainly concern direct impacts of the inclusion of building and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC, not electricity or heating costs related to the inclusion of power and heat production in the scope of that Directive. Eligibility fSuch direct income support should decrease in time as the investments in energy efficiency, in building renovation and in zero- and low-emission mobility and transport should have paid off. Such direct income support should be limited in timeto 40% of the total estimated costs of the Plans for the period 2024-2027 and should be limited to 30% for the period 2028-2032.
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Taking into account the importance of tackling climate change in line with Paris Agreement commitments, the commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights and the commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the actions under this Regulation should contribute to the achievement of the target that 30% of all expenditure under the 2021- 2027 multiannual financial framework should be spent on mainstreaming climate objectives and should contribute to the ambition of providing 10% of annual spending to biodiversity objectives in 2026 and 2027, while considering the existing overlaps between climate and biodiversity goals. For this purpose, the methodology set out in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council33 should be used to tag the expenditures of the Fund. The Fund should support activities that fully respect the climate and environmental standards and priorities of the Union and comply with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council34 . Only such measures and investments should be included in the Plans. Direct income support measures should as a rule be considered as having an insignificant foreseeable impact on environmental objectives, and as such be considered compliant with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’. The Commission intends to issue technical guidance to the Member States well ahead of the preparation of the Plans. The guidance will explain how the measures and investments must comply with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852. The Commission intends to present in 2021 a proposal for a Council Recommendation on how to address the social aspects of the green transition. _________________ 33 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159). 34 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).
Amendment 335 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The financial envelope of the Fund should, in principle, be commensurate to amounts corresponding to 25% of the expected revenues from the inclusion of buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC in the period 2026-2032. Pursuant to Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/205341 , Member States should make those revenues available to the Union budget as own resources. Member States are to finance 50% of the total costs of their Plan themselves. For this purpose, as well as for investment and measures to accelerate and alleviate the required transition for citizens negatively affected, Member States should inter alia use their expected revenues from emissions trading for buildings and road transport under Directive 2003/87/EC for that purpose. Moreover, the financial envelope should be reinforced by using additional revenues from a higher carbon price generated by the extension of the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC to buildings and road transport. In the event of a higher carbon price, additional revenues should automatically finance the Fund. _________________ 41 Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 of 14 December 2020 on the system of own resources of the European Union and repealing Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom (OJ L 424, 15.12.2020, p. 1).
Amendment 368 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) The implementation of the Fund should be carried out in line with the principle of sound financial management, including the protection of the Union budget in the case of breaches of the principles of the rule of law, the effective prevention and prosecution of fraud, tax fraud, tax evasion, corruption and conflicts of interest.
Amendment 395 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
The measures and investments supported by the Fund shall benefit households, micro-enterprises and transport users, which are vulnerable and particularly affected by the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC, especially households in energy poverty and citizens without public transport alternative to individual cars (in remote and rural areas)in mobility poverty.
Amendment 413 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 4
Article 1 – paragraph 4
The general objective of the Fund is to contribute to thea socially fair transition towards climate neutrality notably by addressing the social impacts of the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC. The specific objective of the Fund is to support vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and vulnerable transport users through temporary direct income support and through measures and investments intended to increase energy efficiency of buildings, decarbonisation of heating and cooling of buildings, including the integration of energy from renewable sources, and granting improved access to zero- and low-emission mobility and transport with the objective to gradually phase out fossil fuels dependence.
Amendment 444 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘energy poverty’ means energy povertya household’s lack of access to essential energy services that underpin a decent standard of living and health, including adequate warmth, cooling, lighting, and energy to power appliances, in the relevant national context, existing social policy and other relevant policies as defined in point [(49)] of Article 2 of Directive (EU) [yyyy/nnn] of the of the European Parliament and of the Council50 ; _________________ 50 [Directive (EU) [yyyy/nnn] of the of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ C […], […], p. […]).] [Proposal for recast of Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency]
Amendment 447 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
(2a) ‘mobility poverty’ means households that have a disproportionate share of mobility expenditure to their disposable income or a limited availability of affordable public or alternative modes of transport required to meet essential socio-economic needs, with a particular focus on households in rural, insular, outermost regions, mountainous, remote and less accessible areas or less developed regions or territories, including less developed (peri-)urban areas, caused by one or a combination of factors: high fuel prices, the phase-out of internal combustion engine cars, high costs for the replacement of internal combustion engine cars with zero-emission cars, high- costs or lack of availability of adequate, affordable public or alternative modes of transport;
Amendment 468 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11
(11) ‘vulnerable households’ means households in energy poverty or households, including lower middle- income onehouseholds, that are significantly affected by the transition towards climate neutrality, especially the price impacts of the incluextension of buildings into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC to buildings and road transport and lack the means to renovate the building they occupy;
Amendment 479 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 12
(12) ‘vulnerable micro-enterprises’ means micro-enterprises that are significantly affected by the transition towards climate neutrality, especially the price impacts of the incluextension of buildings into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC to buildings and road transport and lack the means to renovate the building they occupy or to purchase zero- and low-emission vehicles;
Amendment 500 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 13
(13) ‘vulnerable transport users’ means transport users, including from lower middle-income households, that are significantly affected by the price impacts of the inclusion of road transport intotransition towards climate neutrality and at risk of mobility poverty, especially because of the price impacts of the extension of the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC to road transport and lack the means to purchase zero- and low- emission vehicles or to switch to alternative sustainable modes of transport, including public transport, particularly in rural and remote areas and outermost regions.
Amendment 602 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) indicative national targets and objectives to reduce the number of vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and vulnerable transport users over the duration of the Plan, including an indicative timetable with intermediary targets and objectives;
Amendment 668 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) greenhouse gas emissions reductions and gradually ending the fossil fuel dependence;
Amendment 738 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) contribute to the decarbonisation, including the electrification, of heating and cooling of, and cooking in, buildings and the integration of energy from renewable sources that contribute to the achievements of energy savings including subsidies and zero-interest loans to invest in products and services to increase the energy efficiency of buildings and to integrate renewable energy sources in buildings;
Amendment 851 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Each year, the programmed baseline allocation in the EU budget should be reinforced in case there is any increase of the carbon price, as this raise would create additional burden on the vulnerable households and microenterprises as well as vulnerable transport users. Such annual reinforcements should correspond to the carbon price increase and be accommodated within the MFF by means of an automatic ‘upward adjustment’ of the ceiling of Heading 3 and the payment ceiling, the mechanism for which is to be provided for in the MFF regulation according to Article 312 TFEU.
Amendment 930 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i
(i) whether the Plan represents a response to the social impact on and challenges faced by vulnerable households, vulnerable micro-enterprises and vulnerable transport users in the Member State concerned from establishthe transition towards climate neutrality, especially from extending the emission trading system forto buildings and road transport established pursuant to Chapter IVa of Directive 2003/87/EC, especially households in energy poverty and mobility poverty, duly taking into account the challenges identified in the assessments of the Commission of the update of the concerned Member State’s integrated national energy and climate plan and of its progress pursuant to Article 9(3), and Articles 13 and 29 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, as well as in the Commission recommendations to Member States issued pursuant to Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 in view of the long-term objective of climate neutrality in the Union by 2050. This shall take into account the specific challenges and the financial allocation of the Member State concerned;
Amendment 952 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
(i) whether the Plan is expected to have a lasting impact on the on the EU’s 2030 target, on climate neutrality and on the challenges addressed by that Plan and in particular on vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and vulnerable transport users, especially households in energy poverty and mobility poverty, in the Member State concerned;
Amendment 1028 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. In implementing the Fund, the Member States, as beneficiaries of funds under the Fund, shall take all the appropriate measures to protect the financial interests of the Union and to ensure that the use of funds in relation to measures and investments supported by the Fund complies with the applicable Union and national law, in particular regarding the protection of the Union budget in the case of breaches of the principles of the rule of law, the prevention, detection and correction of fraud, corruption and conflicts of interests. To this effect, the Member States shall provide an effective and efficient internal control system as further detailed in Annex III and the recovery of amounts wrongly paid or incorrectly used. Member States may rely on their regular national budget management systems.
Amendment 1030 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 20 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. In implementing the Fund, the Commission shall take all the appropriate measures in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 to ensure the protection of funds in relation to measures and investments supported by the Fund in the case of breaches of the principles of the rule of law in the Member States. The Commission shall provide, to that effect, an effective and efficient internal control system and the recovery of amounts wrongly paid or incorrectly used.
Amendment 1047 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2
Article 22 – paragraph 2
Amendment 1051 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 a (new)
Article 22 a (new)
Article 22 a Visibility of Union funding 1. Each Member State and each intermediary entities benefiting from support under Article 8 shall ensure: (a) the visibility for final beneficiaries of Union support in all activities relating to operations supported by the Fund including by displaying the emblem of the Union and an appropriate funding statement that reads “funded by the European Union - Social Climate Fund” on documents and communication material; (b) communication to Union citizens of the role and achievements of the Fund through a single EU website portal in all official Member States languages, providing access to all programmes involving that Member State; (c) a short description of the operation, proportionate to the level of support, including its aims and results, and highlighting the financial support from the Union to be provided on their official website and social media sites, where such sites exist; (c) the display for operations involving physical investment or equipment durable plaques or billboards clearly visible to the final beneficiaries and the public, that present the emblem of the Union, as soon as the physical implementation of operations involving physical investment starts or purchased equipment is installed; (d) communication for operations involving financial instruments, including for temporary direct income support in accordance with Article 6(1), the amount of support from the Fund to the final recipients.
Amendment 1058 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) detailed quantitative information on the number of households in energand micro- enterprises in energy poverty and mobility poverty;
Amendment 1063 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) when applicable, detailed information on progress towards the national indicative targets and objectives to reduce the number of households in energand micro-enterprises in energy poverty and mobility poverty;