28 Amendments of Judith A. MERKIES related to 2012/2103(INI)
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 67 #
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 and sources, and energy efficiency; stresses, in this regard, the importance of increasing Europe's industrial competitiveness, stimulating sustainable economic growth en creating jobs;
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 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 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Acknowledges the increased interaction of centralised large-scale systems and decentralised systems; furthermore, stresses the need to develop a coherent strategy on the promotion and facilitation of the use of small-scale energy generators;
Amendment 155 #
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; recommends, in this respect,stresses the importance of decentralised energy generation in increasing energy efficiency; recommends that energy efficiency be integrated into national educational curricula in the Member States;
Amendment 171 #
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 – 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 necessaryto allow for the integration of individual microgeneration units and to enable citizens to feed surplus back to the grid; stresses, moreover, the urgent need for the establishment of mechanisms to allow for EU financing of infrastructure projects of common interest;
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 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses the importance of microgeneration for increasing the share of renewable energy sources; moreover, highlights the importance of microgeneration for increasing energy efficiency, securing energy supply and engaging citizens in their own energy use and the fight against climate change; emphasizes, in this regard, the need for a coherent European strategy on microgeneration which includes measures on the update of energy infrastructure, the reduction of legislative burdens and an exchange of best practices of fiscal incentives;
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 284 #
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, microgeneration), that will arise as the contribution of variable renewable generation increases; stresses the need to have sufficient capacity available 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 486 #
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; stresses the need for stimulating consumers to generate their own energy; highlights, in this context, the role of smart meters in providing consumers with data on energy consumption in households and businesses and surplus that is fed back to the grid;
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;
Amendment 513 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Stresses the importance of further research and development into the use of energy storage facilities in order to facilitate the use of renewable energy sources in the transport sector;