20 Amendments of Ioannis A. TSOUKALAS related to 2012/2103(INI)
Amendment 27 #
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 targets; 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 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that a clear policy and regulatory framework will stimulate the necessary investments for low-carbon energy investments; Underlines the importance of an energy strategy focused on increasing the EU's energy security and economic competitiveness through measures such as the diversification of supply routes, suppliers and sources, and energy efficiency and strong R&D investment in energy related fields;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the urgent need for new, smart and flexible infrastructure – including smart grids and smart meters, information management tools and "virtual power plants" – 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 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Recognises that renewable energy targets have been successful and calls on Member States to implement stable policies in order to meet their 2020 targets;
Amendment 217 #
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 investments are made where they will bthe 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; 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, from small- scale to larger-scale – integrating local and more remote sources – and from subsidised to competitive; emphasises that, in mature markets with high penetration levels, the changing nature of mature renewables requires changes in policy to be made with a view to achieving greater market integration; in those markets, highlights the need for support schemes to be gradually phased out as technologies and supply chains mature and market failures are resolved;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls for the European Commission to assess the benefits of extending renewable energy targets beyond 2020, including 2030 targets, as this would provide the industry in which the EU has developed a competitive advantage continued clarity for investment, and foster EU technological leadership and industrial innovation;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. In order to boost Europe's competitiveness by promoting renewable energy technology exports, calls on Member States and the European Commission to support and promote global open market policies for renewable goods in order to ensure the removal of all trade barriers;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that, as Member States pursue the goal of energy security and energy dependence, 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; highlights the importance of ensuring that policy and regulatory developments in Member States will fully implement the provisions of the three liberalisation packages 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 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights the new challenges and new market opportunities, such as the need for flexible resources in the power system (e.g. flexible generation, storage, demand management and interconnections), that will arise as the contribution of variable renewable generation increases; stresses the need to have sufficient capacity availablfunctioning markets in Europe 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 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Is concerned by the delays affecting the completion of the Southern Corridor; stresses the need to achieve energy security through energy diversification, recalls the significant contribution of LNG and LNG fleets to EU energy supply and emphasises the potential of a complementary LNG corridor in the East Mediterranean to serve as a flexible source of energy and an incentive for increased competition within the EU internal energy market;
Amendment 303 #
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 are justified from a security of supply, solidarity and sustainability perspective but are unable to attract enough market- based finance, and may require limited public support to leverage private funding; emphasises that in such projects any contribution from public finance should be based onselected on the basis of clear, transparent criteria, should not distort competition and should take into account the interests of consumers;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Urges the Member States and the international community to maintain educational institutions capable of producing skilled labour force in the areas of energy safety, security and waste management, as well as the next generation of scientists and innovators, in the areas of energy safety, security and waste management; in this respect recalls the important role of Horizon 2020 and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in bridging the gap between education, research and implementation in the energy sector;
Amendment 348 #
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 a flexible back-up, and in balancing capacity where intermittent renewable energy supplies are variable;
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that optimal, safe and sustainable development and use of domestic energy resources, and the competitiveness of infrastructure necessary for the stable supply of domestic or imported energy, including refining, can contribute to increased energy security, and therefore should constitute a priority when forming EU energy policy;
Amendment 409 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need to ensure the energy security and eventual self-sustainability of the EU through alternative and/or domestic sources of energy and to reduce import dependency; highlights, therefore, the emerging importance of the exploration of oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea and the Arctic; believes that there is an urgent need to develop an comprehensive EU policy on oil and gas drilling at sea, 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 429 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses that as energy supply is shifting towards developing economies, the EU should engage in intensive dialogue and cooperation with the BRICS countries with respect to energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, clean coal, CCS, smart grids, fusion research, and nuclear safety; the EU should also develop a clear policy for research and innovation collaboration in the energy sector with those countries;
Amendment 469 #
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 problemchallenges and opportunities; takes the opinion that the recent relatively high prices of fossil fuels promote the development of renewablincrease energy prices; notes, however, that in some Member States the promotion of renewable energy by means of financial support could also lead to higher energy prices in the short-term;
Amendment 487 #
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; believes, regardless, that the role of ICT technologies is increasingly important for energy; highlights, in this context, the role of smart meters in providing consumers with data oneasily understood data on actual energy consumption in households and businesses via the smart meter's display or via the Internet;
Amendment 503 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. 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 ofSET Plan technologies and other sustainable low carbon technologies in order to spur EU competitiveness, promote job opportunities and bring about a change in consumer behaviour;
Amendment 510 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Stresses the importance of further research and development by the industry into the use of energy efficiency, renewable energy and natural gas in the maritime and aviation sectors;