Activities of Lena KOLARSKA-BOBIŃSKA related to 2012/2099(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Role of EU cohesion policy in implementing the new European energy policy (A7-0437/2012 - Lena Kolarska-Bobińska) (vote)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the role of EU cohesion policy and its actors in implementing the new European energy policy PDF (194 KB) DOC (113 KB)
Amendments (24)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
– having regard to the communication of 15 December 2011 entitled ‘Energy Roadmap 20150’ (COM(2011)0885),
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas, under the original Commission proposal, that at least 80 % of ERDF resources in more developed and 50% in less developed regions should going to a 'low-carbon economy';
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas within this theme, a minimum of 20% and 6% respectively are required to be allocated to energy efficiency and renewables, which is a significant amount of funding;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the minimum amount for an ELENA eligible project is 50 Million Euros and for the Intelligent Energy programme, the minimum is greater than 6 Million Euros, which is larger than many projects in small and rural communities;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises, in view of the crisis' negative effect of increasing local and regional disparities in Europe, the need for strong EU support for economic, social and territorial cohesion; believes that European energy projects could contribute to regional development through investments in decentralised energy sources, energy efficiency and other measures which support growth and jobs;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses, however, that the cohesion policy programmes should not be seen as a replacement for the proper funding of European energy policy proposals or national renewables support schemes; stresses that cohesion policy can support actions, such as energy efficiency measures, as an additional source of funding, but only when these programmes promote the cohesion policy objectives;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that the regions of Europe should be able to focus on those energy sources which are best suited to the local conditions and that the EU should start measuring European energy objectives on an EU-wide scale; calls for the deployment of renewable sources of energy within the EU to be made more efficient by striving towards a system of EU-wide incentives for renewable sources, on which basis specific types of renewables would be deployed in those parts of the EU where they are most efficient, thereby lowering the cost of promoting them and guaranteeing the efficient allocation of funding;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses, that, owing to the EU's climate change objectives, developments in energy pricing may place citizens in the less developed EU regions at a particular disadvantage; asks, therefore, that this be considered within cohesion policy planning and for Member States to take additional actions to diminish the effects on the European Union population and especially protected consumers;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that any future energy goals should be based on fair burden sharing between European regions and should allow them the possibility of future development; firmly believes, therefore, that any multiannual financial allocation needs to take into consideration not only the general Europe-wide objectives, but also the institutional capacities of regions throughout the EU which is in need of being strengthened;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out, with regard to large-scale energy projects, the possible capacity deficiencies of various regional and local authorities, which might seriously hamper implementation; believes, therefore, not only that JESSICA, ELENA and IEE- MLEI should be strengthened, but that any energy allocfunding allocations for low-emission economy thematic concentrations within the cohesion policy should be reviewed by 2018 in light of their absorption rate and adjusted as needed and at the latest - within the framework of prospective general review of the MFF;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses, while supporting new financial instruments for energy projects(loans, loan guarantees and equity), that this should be in addition to direct grants and co-financing of energy projects and not a replacement for them; draws the attention of the Member States and the Commission to the fact that individuals, small and medium-sized towns and rural communities should be eligible for direct funding aid for energy efficiency and building renovation projects as they are likely to lack the necessary administrative capacity to use other financial instruments fully;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that, for projects to be properly implemented, regional and local authorities should be consulted on partnership agreements in such a way as to give them a real opportunity to influence their goals, the content of expenditure and their implementation; supports therefore a multi-level governance and decentralised approach to energy policy and energy efficiency, including the Covenant of Mayors and the further development of the Smart Cities initiative;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points out that cohesion policy funding arrangements should ensure that the differing economic, social and territorial features of regions are fully taken into consideration; highlights in this respect the role of the regions located on the external borders of the European Union;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that, while the Common Strategic Frameworkcurrent proposals for the next multi-annual financial programming period provides for general earmarking, ring-fencing and other thematic targets, these measures should be applied in a flexible manner within partnership agreements to allow Member States to pursue individual national paths towards the 2020 goals;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Singles out the need to apply the broadest possible terms of reference and definitions in the energy projects put forward for cohesion policy funding; notes in particular, that different geographical conditions makes impossible to 'one-size- fits-all' energy policy to all regions;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that, while Member States are changing their energy mixes in accordance with the EU's climate goals, many regions are dependent on fossil fuels; believes, therefore, that not only low-carbon, but all low-emission sources of energy, such as shale gas, ought to be accepted, including those of a transitional nature; stress that the shale gas exploration will give some regions not only energy security but a source of regional development, which is even more needed in this time of crisis in Europe; notes also that shale gas will allow those regions where fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, is the major source of energy to lower their emissions by moving towards natural gas; underline that Europe should promote energy diversification and not prevent all paths to a low emission economy;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Supports the use of cohesion and energy policy funds for cross-border projects with third partner countries; stresses that bordering regions should be incorporated into the EU system to ensure sustainable development on both sides of the border; stresses that such funding should be subject to the application of the EU energy market rules, including the third energy package;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that cohesion policy funds should be available to educate SMEs and individuals on national renewable energy schemes; notes that this is especially needed in those Member States where a ‘certificate of origin’ system has been adopted, which might favour only large scale energy projects;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that excluding projects which might come under Directive 2003/87/EC from the ERDF and the CFohesion Fund is likely to have a disproportional effect on less developed regions and delay their transition to low-emission regions; asks the Commission to further clarify and define which energy sectors would not be eligible for cohesion policy funding and to withdraw this exclusion from projects located in convergence regions;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Agrees that energy efficiency is vital to the EU's energy goals and should be promoted above all within the thematic concentration structure; believes that EU measures should support energy efficiency in both energy consumption and production; notes that while currently cohesion policy energy funding is overwhelming spent on renewables, renewables are already supported by targeted EU and Member States schemes, including feed-in tariffs; notes that this raises questions of the collective impact of cohesion funding in relations to the development of renewables in individual regions; believes, therefore, a greater balance must be reached by which a greater percentage of funding is targeted at energy efficiency projects;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Considers, taking into account regional demands, that funding for renewables should focus primarily on the local distribution of the power/fuel produced and small-scale renewable projects; notes that large scale renewables project often either focus on the transmission of this energy outside the region of its production or find local grids do not have the capacity to absorb this intermittent energy;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes the need for energy efficiency and development of renewable energy in rural areas; stresses the increasing energy saving potential in rural households, which might require innovative funding schemes as these communities lack the financial institutions with the ability to support such projects; supports steps to facilitate access to new technologies for rural areas;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes the imbalance in sustainable resource use between different Member States, takes the view that measures to support resource efficiency and the recycling of materials should be stepped up; underlines the risk of carbon leakage and its effect on regional development and social cohesion and therefore believes that there must be created a balance between the application between our climate objectives and the need for energy security of Europe's regions which is needed for sustainable and competitive growth;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commiss, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions.