38 Amendments of Kathleen VAN BREMPT related to 2012/2103(INI)
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises the benefits to Member States of working together for an energy system transformation which must start now; endorses, therefore, the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050 as the basis for proposing legislative and other initiatives on energy policy with a view to developing a policy framework for 2030, including milestones and targetsbased on legally binding targets (for greenhouse gas emissions, renewables and energy efficiency) ; notes that defining energy targets for 2050 assumes pan- European governance; pursues, within the spirit of the Union, a strategy that will allow Member States to cooperate and not feel repressed under the Roadmap;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the proposed strategies for 2030 and 2050 are not of a deterministic nature, but rather serve as a basis for constructive dialogueframework for developing more precise policy instruments aimed at reaching the objectives and binding targets, based on a constructive dialogue with all involved stakeholders on issues relating to industry, research and energy;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Proposes that the assumptions underlying the different scenario's and especially the costs attributed to the various energy sources are reviewed on a regular basis; in these assessments, special attention must be paid to the changes in investment requirements, technical and economic feasibility, technological developments, lock-in risks and life-cycle costs of the various energy generation options;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the importance of the EU's energy policy amidst the financial crisis; emphasises the role that energy could potentiallyan play in spurring growth and competitiveness in the EU; calls on the Commission to propose post-2020 strategies and to present a 2030 policy framework for European energy policy; encourages the Member States to step up their ongoing efforts to reach the current 2020 targets in the area of EU energy policylegislation to renew and extend the climate and energy package in order to ensure a stable European energy policy framework towards 2030 and 2040, with an emphasis on binding targets for energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy and by full integration of the no regrets options of the energy roadmap 2050; encourages the Member States to step up their ongoing efforts to reach the current 2020 targets in the area of EU energy policy; stresses in this regard that timely and full implementation of all provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC is vital for achieving the EU´s binding target of at least 20% by 2020;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Urges the Commission to come forward with one specific scenario which guides the way towards 2050; stresses that this scenario should be based on the no- regrets options combining high energy efficiency, high renewables and a smart infrastructure; realizes that it is impossible to look into the future but stresses that a clear action plan and consensus among all the Member States is crucial to reach the goals of sustainability, security and competitiveness;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses that this scenario towards 2050 needs to be detailed, outlining specific crucial projects and ambitious policy measures including intermediate and 2050 targets for energy efficiency, renewable energy and green house gas emissions; emphasizes the urgency in developing this scenario as the first steps need to be taken now;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that a clear policy and regulatory framework willis of major importance to help stimulate the necessary investments for low-carbon energy investments; Underlines the importance of an energy strategy focused on increasing the EU's energy sustainability, security and economic competitiveness through measures such as the diversification of supply routes and sources, andenhancing renewable energy, diversifying energy supply and boosting energy efficiency;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the prices of energy sources and functioning carbon markets play a major role in determining the behaviour of market actors, including industry and consumers, and notes that the inability of the current EU policy framework to fully internalise external costs perpetuates unsustainable consumption patterns and reduces the speed of the transition towards sustainability; calls for a post 2020 policy framework to be guided by the polluters pay principle and long term rules to guarantee security for markets actors;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that it is in the competence of each Member State to define its own energy mix; acknowledges that the Energy Roadmap 2050 complements national, regional and local efforts to modernise energy supply; acknowledges, therefore, the need for Member States to work together on the basis of common objectives, as well as themoreover stresses that, to be able to reach an energy transformation that is well coordinated, Union wide, interconnected and sustainable, there is a very important role to be played by the EU; urges the Member States and the Commission to continue to pursue options which can meet the EU's decarbonisation objective in an economically efficient, safe and sustainable way, and to continue with efforts to fully tap the potential for cost- effective energy savings, supported, inter alia, by available Union financial instruments; recognises, at the same time, the merits of developing a coordinated and, where appropriate, common European approach;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the conclusions reached in the Energy Roadmap that the transition of thtowards a sustainable energy sector on an EU-wide scale is technically and economically feasible, and couldwill be less costly in the long-run than a continuation of current policies under certain assumptions;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Believes that the goals towards 2050 will never be reached unless the EU takes its responsibilities and fulfils a key role in the transition; especially for huge projects, such as off shore wind in the North Sea, and for cross-border infrastructure affecting several or all Member States, the EU should outline priority projects and function as a key investor, thereby leveraging private investments;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Emphasizes that, when transforming the energy landscape, people take centre stage; therefore welcomes the inclusion of the social dimension in the Energy Roadmap; urges the Commission to elaborate further on this matter and propose measures for adjusting education and retraining enhancing a highly skilled workforce and boosting employment; asks to investigate consumer costs and benefits with special attention for energy poverty and protecting low-income households who are most affected by higher energy prices; stresses that all types of consumers and prosumers need to be included in the social dialogue and awareness campaigns should be carried out to generate the necessary behavioural changes;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises that a higher share of renewable energy beyond 2020 is a key aspect of a more sustainable energy system; recognises, furthermore, that all of the decarbonisation scenarios explored in the Commission communication assume an increased share of renewable energy emphasises that a share of renewable energy of 45% in gross final energy consumption in 2030 can be obtained; for example by focussing more on energy efficiency and by setting the EU energy mix of around 30% in grosright targets, which would create the required certainty for investors final the energy consumption in 2030sector;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that improved energy efficiency and energy savings will play an essential role in the transformation of the energy system, and that meeting the 2020 objectives is an important basis for further progress up to 2050; recommendproposes, in this respect, that binding energy efficiency targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050 are put in place; recommends awareness raising campaigns and energy efficiency to be integrated into national educational curricula in the Member States;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the urgent need for new, smart and flexible infrastructure – including smart grids and smart meterdemand response programmes focussed on energy savings and consumer benefits – and fully integrated network planning in order, inter alia, to integrate local and more remote sources of renewable energy across the EU, as has been proven necessary; stresses, moreover, the urgent need for the establishment of mechanisms to allow for EU financing of infrastructure projects of common interest;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the importance of a high level of energy efficiency for reaching energy security and the greenhouse gas reduction target, as well as the positive effects on EU competitiveness, industrial leadership, job creation, energy independence and energy prices; emphasizes the necessity of achieving the 20% energy efficiency target by 2020 and of setting binding intermediate targets for 2030, 2040 to reach 40% by 2050; recommends that, while aiming to augment energy efficiency, all steps and stakeholders of the supply and demand chain should be looked at (amongst others: production, transformation, transmission, distribution and consumption at all levels);
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that a more European approach to renewable policy is key in the medium to long term; encourages Member States to work together in order to optimise the cost efficiency of renewables expansion and to ensure that more investments are made where they will be most productive and efficient, taking into account the specific characteristics of Member States; highlights, in this context, the Commission's important role as a facilitator;emphasizes the importance of putting targets in to place, as the legally binding target of 20% by 2020 has already proven to be successful and is likely to be exceeded in almost every Member State; therefore, calls for a binding target of 45% for 2030 and ambitious indicative targets (70%) for 2040 and (95%) 2050, highlights, the EU's important facilitating, coordinating and financially supporting role, points out that renewables will, in the long term, move to the centre of the energy mix in Europe, as they progress from technology development to mass production and deployment, fromon a small- scale toas well as on a larger-scale – integrating local and more remote sources – and from subsidised to competitive; emphasises that the changing nature of renewables requires changes in policy to be made with a view to achieving greater market integration; highlights the need for support schemes to bestresses the importance of stable regulatory frameworks, both on an EU as on a Member State level to stimulate investments, highlights the need for simplified administrative procedures and stable and efficient support schemes which can be adapted over time and phased out aswhen technologies and supply chains mature and market failures are resolved;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that, as Member States pursue the goal of energy security and energy independence, emphasis needs to be shifted towards a model of energy interdependence by ensuring the swift completion of the EU internal energy market and the EU supergrid infrastructure linking North and South, and East and West; as well as using the full potential of decentralised and micro scale energy production and smart energy infrastructures in all Member States, highlights the importance of ensuring that policy and regulatory developments in Member States will eliminate remaining infrastructure ‘'bottlenecks’' and will not create new barriers to electricity and gas or energy market integration; stresses, moreover, that energy policy decisions in each national system need to take account of how such decisions could affect other Member States;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights the new challenges, such as the need for flexible resources in the power system (e.g. flexible generation, storage, demand management), that will arise as the contribution of variable renewable generation increases; stresses the need to have sufficient capacity, as well as the need for new infrastructure and flexibility at the distribution level and the ability of prosumers and distribution service operators (DSOs) to contribute to a higher energy efficiency; stresses the need for a thorough assessment of the available capacity to ensure security of electricity supply; stresses, in this regard, that policy developments in Member States should not create new barriers to electricity- or gas- market integration;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that, since the current infrastructure is outdated, huge investments will be necessary in each scenario of the Commission's Communication on the Roadmap 2050; this will result in a rise in the energy prices until 2030 in each scenario; furthermore, the Commission states that the largest share of these increases are already happening in the reference scenario since they are linked to the replacement of the next 20 years old, already fully written-off generation capacity; emphasizes that, since all scenario's have similar costs, the positive economic, environmental and social effects connected to the high energy efficiency and the high renewable scenario should not be neglected;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalls that markets must continue to play the main role in financing energy infrastructure investments, while acknowledging that there are some projects that may require limited publicpublic support, since they are of major importance for the transformation of the EU's energy landscape; moreover, this support tocan leverage private funding; emphasises that any contribution from public finance should be based on clear, transparent criteria, should not distort competition and should take into account the interests of consumers;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Emphasizes the importance of the Connecting Europe Facility with a considerable amount reserved for transforming and further developing the energy infrastructure in the EU; stresses the importance of identifying and supporting crucial sustainable projects on a large as well as on a small scale;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Emphasizes that more attention needs be given to demand-side management; stresses that demand-side management, on an industrial as well as on a consumer scale, is a powerful tool for achieving a renewables based energy system, as it evens out high peaks in demand or supply and therefore reduces the needed amount of storage and back- up provisions;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
The role of specific energy sourcfossil fuels and related technologies
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Agrees with the Commission that natural gas, will be criticalplay an important role for the transformation of the energy system, since it represents ato a sustainable energy system based on renewables, since it represents a short to medium term and relatively quick and cost-efficient way of reducing reliance on other more polluting fossil fuels, thereby lowering which produce higher greenhouse gas emissions;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recognises the key role of gas, both in the transition to a low-carbon energy system and as aperiod towards an energy system based on renewables and as a short to medium term flexible back-up, ands it can help in balancing capacity where renewable energy supplies are variable;
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Believes that unconventional gas has a role toUrges the Commission to come forward with a regulatory framework regarding unconventional gas, based on their recent assessments and taking into account all environmental, economic, social and health aspects, as well as calculations on total-life cycle costs, lock- in effects, land use and hazards of fracking in proximity to critical installations; stresses that, to determine the role that unconventional gas could play in the future EU energy mix, and calls on the Commission and the Member States toshould take the developresults of the assessments surrounding unconventional gas into account when formulating the future energy outlook scenarios;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underlines the importance ofNotes that Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) could play a role on the road to 2050 and decarbonisation; however, is concerned about unresolved problems such as non-specified delays in development, high cost prices and environmental risks; stresses that CCS oughtis unlikely to be ready by 2030 if fossil fuels are to remain significant in the energy mixfor commercial deployment before 2030 and therefore recommends cautiousness when accounting for CO2 reductions attributed to CCS in the scenarios; highlights that CCS is alsomight be an important option for the decarbonisation of several heavy industries and could, combined with biomass, deliver ‘'carbon negative’' values;
Amendment 379 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Notes that, as long as demand for products based on crude oil continues, keeping a European presence in the refining industry is important; not only for the sectors involved in refinery or based on refined products, but also for preserving employment in those sectors and for environmental aspects;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Is of opinion that, in a sustainable energy landscape and the path towards it, there is no place for hazardous or heavily polluting energy sources, especially in the long term; therefore stresses that no EU funds shall be granted to the construction of new coal or nuclear plants;
Amendment 408 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need to ensure the energy security of the EU through, primarily achieved by promoting energy savings and renewable energy, which will, together with other alternative sources of energy and to, reduce import dependency; highlights, therefore, the emerging importance ofnotes the emerging interest regarding the exploration of oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea and the Arctic; believes that there is an urgent need to develop an EU policy on oil and gas drilling at sea, with an emphasis on environmental hazards and including delineation of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of EU Member States and relevant third countries in accordance with the UNCLOS Convention, to which all EU Member States and the EU as such are signatories;
Amendment 412 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Urges to be very cautious when considering oil and gas drilling in the Arctic; given the very fragile and indispensible areas, especially in the High Arctic, no drilling should occur unless thorough and scientific risk analysis have shown that risks of all types of environmental hazards can be prevented;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises that the granting of licensing rights for drilling and the delineation of EEZs will become a source of friction with third countries, and the EU should maintain a high political profile in this respect and create a solid legal framework to avoid these frictions; underlines that energy should be used as a motor for peace, cooperation, energy security, sustainable growth and stability;
Amendment 438 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Recognises that the ETS is the principal – though not the only – instrument for reducing industrial emissions and promoting investment in safe and sustainable low carbon technologies; notes that further improvement of the ETS is necessary; notes that any structural changes to the ETS would require a careful assessment of environmental, economic and social effects as well as on the impact on electricity prices and on the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries; calls on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate the development of innovative, safe and sustainable technological solutions by European industries;
Amendment 446 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the EU to continue to play an active role in the international negotiations on the global climate deal; takes the opinion that climate diplomacy should come under the umbrella of the European External Action Service (EEAS); stresses that the EU needs to know what the consequences of a failure to conclude a global climate change agreement would be but emphasizes that the EU needs to act on climate change in any case to safe costs, create benefits for the environment, job opportunities and front runner advantages for the industry;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Believes that prices play a crucial role in energy-related investment and energy production; notes that the different Member States' policies to promote renewable energy show both successes and problems; takes the opinion that the recent relatively high prices of fossil fuels promote the development of renewable energy; notes, however, that in some Member States the promotion of renewable energy by means of financial support could lead to high energy prices that support for fossil and nuclear energy and unbalanced financial support for renewable energy could distort market competition and lead to high energy prices; urges Member States to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, in line with the G-20 agreement;
Amendment 478 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Believes that, while energy bills in Europe have risen in recent years, this development has given rise to a ‘'smart’', common sense-based approach to energy efficiency and energy savings; stresses the importance of accompanying this natural yet insufficient change in behaviour with the right policy actions and financial support to enhance further energy savings, believes, regardless, that the role of ICT technologies is increasingly important for energy; highlights, in this context, the role of smart meters inneed to define the role of demand response programmes aimed at consumer benefits providing consumersthem with data on energy consumption in households and businesses;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. CHighlights the decrease in costs of renewable energy, partly created by technological improvements through advanced research and development; stresses the importance of continuing to support research and development for renewable energy, by, amongst others, earmarking a higher share for renewable energy research in the amount of 3% of public GDP reserved for research and by carrying out the SET plan; calls on the Commission to ensure that Horizon 2020 and the European Innovation Partnerships under the Innovation Union prioritise the need to develop all types ofsafe and sustainable low carbon technologies in order to spur EU competitiveness, promote job opportunities and bring about a change in consumer behaviour;