Activities of Bas EICKHOUT related to 2022/2062(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2022
Amendments (31)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 a (new)
Citation 37 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 1 February 2023 entitled ‘A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age’ (COM(2023)0062),
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 b (new)
Citation 37 b (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 1 December 2021 entitled ‘The Global Gateway’,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 c (new)
Citation 37 c (new)
— having regard to the EIB Investment Report 2022/2023 “Resilience and renewal in Europe” published on 28 February 2023,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the EIB branded itself the EU’s climate bank, in view of the additional investments needed to deliver the green transition;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas in 2022 the EIB launched a new arm, EIB Global, to handle investments outside the EU in line with European Union strategies such as the Global Gateway and the Green Deal; whereas given the many geopolitical challenges in 2022, the role of EIB Global was very important in terms of investment and of Europe’s position in the world;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the EIB is a highly leveraged institution; stresses that the EIB’leverages its seed capital to multiply its impact; stresses that the EIB’s status as an institution backed up by the guarantee of its shareholders, EU Member States, contributes greatly to its ‘triple A’ rating, which is an important asset that enables the EIB must preserve while performing its operationto take greater risks in funding public interest projects compared to private commercial banks; notes that if the EIB does not use its privileged status to also fund riskier projects, it will end up crowding out private lenders;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Invites the shareholders of the EIB to reflect on the optimal equity structure; calls on the shareholders of the EIB to consider a capital increasemission-oriented capital increase, ensuring that its activities do not risk crowding out private lenders;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls for the adaptation of its derisking architecture for green assets to improving risk-reward ratios for projects with limited bankability;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the fact that the EIB supports and, in line with the Operational Plan for 2023-2025, will continue to support the EU’s defence industrycapabilities and joint procurement on the basis of the dual- use principle; while avoiding industrial overcapacities, duplication and fragmentation; stresses that ammunition and weapons, including explosives and sporting weapons, as well as equipment or infrastructure dedicated to military/police use are part of the EIB’s Eligibility, Excluded Activities and Excluded sectors list1awhich is essential for continuing to attract investors with similar exclusion policies in place; _________________ 1a https://www.eib.org/attachments/publicati ons/eib_eligibility_excluded_activities_en. pdf
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the EIB’s increasing efforts to support food security, energy security and connectivity in the context of the ongoing war; underlines the fact that the war has created a severe humanitarian crisis, increased food insecurity and has had a fundamental impact on the economic and security situation in the EU and, its neighbourhood and the Global South;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. ExpStresses its support for EIB Global and stresses itsthe crucial importance of EIB Global in assisting Ukraine;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Urges the EIB to increase support directed at the scale-up of European start- ups, including through taking greater risks in disbursing venture capital to ensure that European start-ups can scale in Europe rather than outside of the EU, in line with its European Tech Champions Initiative;1b _________________ 1b https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2022- 083-eib-group-supports-the-pan- european-scale-up-initiative-to-promote- tech-champions
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Awaits the review of the Climate Bank Roadmap ahead of COP28; expects full alignment with the 1.5 degree pathway including the exclusion of blue hydrogen infrastructures and road and highway financing and the obligation of a solid assessment of less carbon intensive alternatives and ‘Scope 3’ emissions;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages the EIB to use its operations to facilitate and speed up the implementation of the goals of the European Green Deal, particularly because the affordability and security of food has deteriorated worldwidetaking into account the most recent state of knowledge on climate change, its widespread impacts and risks, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the increased urgency for the EU to become independent from fossil fuels, and the globally deteriorated affordability and security of supply of food in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Calls on the EIB to develop a methodology and an estimation of the green funding gap in the EU, differentiating the gap according to public and private funding sources;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Worries that recent changes to the EIB’s PATH framework reduce its effectiveness in driving decarbonisation; underscores that as a matter of priority investments under REPowerEU should not develop lock in effects through fossil infrastructure;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Reiterates its call to only work with clients and financial intermediaries that have credible decarbonisation plans, including short term targets consistent with the 1,5 degree target; opposes the exemptions granted under the PATH framework under RepowerEU; calls for a halt to fossil fuels financing;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. WelcomNotes the introduction of the EIB’s new transport lending policy in July 2022 and calls for its swift implementation, invites the EIB to consider ways to align this policy with the transition challenges in the transport sector, which has not seen sufficient decarbonisation efforts in recent years;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Calls on the EIB to step up support for affordable and energy efficient housing and the renovation of buildings in line with the considerable investment needs as a consequence of the upcoming revision of the Energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD); stresses the need to strengthen advisory services in the housing domain and to involve local, regional, social and public housing providers to ensure their expertise is used in the development of projects financed by the EIB;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Underlines that EIB Global plays a pivotal role in the Global Gateway strategy and the European Financial Architecture for Development; calls for regular assessments of the implementation of the Global Gateway and related EIB Global activities and expect the European Parliament to be given a significant oversight in the governance of the Global Gateway, beyond a simple observer role, given the scrutiny role the European Parliament is entitled to through the NDICI-Global Europe, which is the main source of financing of the Global Gateway;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Calls on EIB Global to develop a concrete and strong development mandate centered on development additionality and country ownership for the new EIB Global; expects this new structure and its advisory board, its goals and budgetary provisions, organisational functioning as well as its coordination mechanisms with other financial development institutions, to be fully transparent, including by proactively publishing documents, and to ensure regular open dialogue with stakeholders, and in particular with civil society organisations;
Amendment 120 #
25. Recalls the EU’s overarching commitment to defending and promoting EU values and the rule of law in its operations outside the EU; underscores the need to invest in due diligence capabilities when operating in an environments marked by challenges on the rule of law and limited recourse in cases of human rights violations; notes that this requires additional human resources and specialised scrutiny in line with the standard of development banks;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Expresses particular concern that since 2015, no standalone human rights impact assessments have been required by the EIB to be carried out by promoters; furthermore reiterates its call on EIB Global to ensure inclusive and meaningful consultation and engagement with communities impacted by its projects prior to their approval and throughout project implementation; underlines that specific measures should be implemented to include indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups during the consultations;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Reminds that EIB operations outside of Europe are based on the general principles guiding EU external action as set forth in Article 21 of the Treaty on the European Union, such as supporting democracy and the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms; is of the opinion that EIB Global should also be accountable for compliance with the principles stated in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and Accra Agenda for Action (ownership, alignment, harmonisation, managing for results and mutual accountability); these principles should guide its operations as a public bank tasked with a development mandate;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Underlines that development investments that involve women and take their needs into account are more effective and more sustainable; invites the EIB to systematically ensure that all of its operations benefit women and specifically economic sectors conducive to the advancement of female participation, in line with its gender-smart financing;1c _________________ 1c https://www.eib.org/attachments/publicati ons/gender-overview-2022-en.pdf
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Calls on the EIB to review its senior appointment procedures, and in particular to introduce safeguards against the direct transition of officials from political positions in the bank into senior management positions;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33 b. Reiterates its call for the EIB to urgently review the division of labour within the Management Committee, and in particular to make sure that EIB Vice- Presidents never take the lead on projects emanating from their home countries, even if the Management Committee takes collective responsibility for its decisions; notes, furthermore, that it would be unthinkable in other EU institutions to routinely put members in charge of affairs concerning their home country, in view of the evident risk for conflicts of interest; emphasises numerous recommendations on this matter from EU institutions;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33 c. Invites the EIB to fully implement all recommendations received from the European Ombudsman as regards follow- on activities of its former members of the Management Committee, as set out in the Ombudsman Decision of 27 July 2022 in Case 1016/2021/KR;1f _________________ 1f https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/de cision/en/158894