Activities of Cornelia ERNST related to 2023/0199(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241
Amendments (14)
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) There is a need to support critical technologies, in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ criteria set out in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in the following fields: deep and digital technologies, clean technologies, and biotechnologies (including the respective critical raw materials value chains), in particular projects, companies and sectors with a critical role for EU’s competitiveness and resilience and its value chains. By way of example, deep technologies and digital technologies should include microelectronics, high- performance computing, quantum technologies (i.e., computing, communication and sensing technologies), cloud computing, edge computing, and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity technologies, robotics, 5G and advanced connectivity and virtual realities, including actions related to deep and digital technologies for the development of defence and aerospace applications. Clean technologies should include, among others, renewable energy; electricity and heat storage; heat pumps; electricity grid; renewable fuels of non- biological origin; sustainable alternative fuels; electrolysers and fuel cells; carbon capture, utilisation and storageelectrolysers and fuel cells; energy efficiency; renewable-based hydrogen and its related infrastructure; smart energy solutions; technologies vital to sustainability such as water purification and desalination; advanced materials such as nanomaterials, composites and future clean construction materials, and technologies for the sustainable extraction and processing of critical raw materials. Biotechnology should be considered to include technologies such as biomolecules and its applications, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies vital for health security, crop biotechnology, and industrial biotechnology, such as for waste disposal, and biomanufacturing. Biotechnology solutions and their value chains should always respect the cascading principle in material use. The Commission may issue guidance to further specify the scope of the technologies in these three fields considered to be critical in accordance with this Regulation, in order to promote a common interpretation of the projects, companies and sectors to be supported under the respective programmes in light of the common strategic objective. Moreover, technologies in any of these three fields which are subjects of an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) approved by the Commission pursuant to Article 107(3), point (b) TFEU should be deemed to be critical, and individual projects within the scope of such an IPCEI should be eligible for funding, in accordance with the respective programme rules, to the extent that the identified funding gap and the eligible costs have not yet been completely covered.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The scope of support of the JTF, laid down in Regulation (EU) 2021/1056,57 should also be extended to cover investments in clean technologies contributing to the objectives of the STEP by large enterprisprojects to address shortages of labour and skills critical to quality jobs in support of the STEP objectives to promote investments in clean technologies, provided that they are compatible with the expected contribution to the transition to climate neutrality as set out in the territorial just transition plans. The support provided for such investments should not require a revision of the territorial just transition plan where that revision would be exclusively linked to the gap analysis justifying the investment from the perspective of job creation. _________________ 57 Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 establishing the Just Transition Fund (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 1).
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to help accelerate investments and provide immediate liquidity for investments supporting the STEP objectives under the ERDF, the ESF+59 and the JTF, an additional amount of exceptional pre-financing should be provided in the form of a one-off payment with respect to the priorities dedicated to investments supporting the STEP objectives. The additional pre-financing should apply to the whole of the JTF allocation given the need to accelerate its implementation and the strong links of the JTF to support Member States towards the STEP objectives. The rules applying for those amounts of exceptional pre-financing should be consistent with the rules applicable to pre-financing set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/1060. Moreover, to further incentivise the uptake of such investments and ensure its faster implementation, the possibility for an increased EU financing rate of 100% for the STEP priorities should be available. When implementing the new STEP objectives, managing authorities are encouraged to applymust develop and implement certain social criteria or promote social positive outcomes, such as creating apprenticeships and jobs for young disadvantaged persons, in particular young persons not in employment, education or training, applying the social award criteria in the Directives on public procurement when a project is implemented by a body subject to public procurement, and paying the applicable wages as agreed through collective bargaining. _________________ 59 Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 21).
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part
(a) supporting the development or manufacturing throughout the Union, or safeguarding and strengthening the respective value chains, of critical technologies, focused on priority sectors that have a demonstrable positive impact for delivering emissions reductions at scale or other environmental benefits and social innovation, in the following fields:
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) deep and digital technologies
Amendment 202 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) bring an innovative, cutting-edge element with significant economic potential to the Single Market, in particular in terms of employment and job creation;
Amendment 221 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 4
Article 2 – paragraph 4
4. The value chain for the manufacturing of critical technologies referred to in the first paragraph relates to final products, as well as key components, specific machinery and critical raw materials primarily used for the production of those products. For the critical raw materials value chain, the focus should be on the processing and integrated recycling of strategic raw materials as defined under the new European Critical Raw Materials Act, while also supporting sustainable extraction and refining of those materials in Europe.
Amendment 245 #
1. The Commission shall award a Sovereignty Seal to any action contributing to any of the Platform objectives, provided the action has been assessed and complies with the minimum quality requirements, in particular eligibility, exclusion and award criteria, provided by a call for proposals under Regulation (EU) 2021/695, Regulation (EU) 2021/694, Regulation (EU) 2021/697, Regulation (EU) 2021/522, or Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/856.fulfilling the following criterion:
Amendment 251 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point i (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point i (new)
(i) contributing to any of the Platform objectives, provided the action has been assessed and complies with the minimum quality requirements, in particular eligibility, exclusion and award criteria, provided by a call for proposals under Regulation (EU) 2021/695, Regulation (EU) 2021/694, Regulation (EU) 2021/697, Regulation (EU) 2021/522, or Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/856.
Amendment 252 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point ii (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point ii (new)
(ii) using components, where technically and economically feasible, made in the single market. No components shall be sourced from third countries that contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States.
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point iii (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point iii (new)
(iii) the project promoter has provided evidence that at least 40% of its ownership is based in the Union
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point iv (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point iv (new)
(iv) the company supporting the action has provided evidence of a long-term decarbonisation plan.
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) financing the action through cumulative or combined funding with another Union instrument in line with the rules of the applicable basic acts, with a priority focus on SMEs.