Activities of Julie GIRLING related to 2011/0428(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) PDF (1 MB) DOC (1 MB)
Amendments (23)
Amendment 61 #
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
(1a) Points out that the financial envelope specified in the legislative proposal is only an indication to the legislative authority and cannot be fixed until agreement is reached on the proposal for a regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020; notes, however, that budgetary constraint should be a priority and that the financial envelope should therefore be commensurate with the budget provided for in the LIFE+ Regulation1 __________________ 1 Regulation (EC) No 614/2007, OJ L 149, 9.6.2007, p. 1
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) By virtue of Article 58 of Council Decision 2001/822/EC of 27 November 2001 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community¹, overseas countries and territories should be eligible to participate in the LIFE Programme. _____________ ¹ OJ L 314, 30.11.2001, p. 1.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The priority area Climate Change Mitigation should contribute to the development and implementation of Union climate-related policy and legislation, in particular with regard toby supporting, where possible, synergies with other environmental objectives, such as biodiversity, in the areas of greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting, policies related to land use, land use change and forestry, emissions trading system, Member States' effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture and storage, renewable energy, energy efficiency, transport and fuels, ozone layer protection and fluorinated gases.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The first consequences of climate change can already be seen in Europe and worldwide, such as extreme weather conditions leading to floods and droughts, and rising temperatures and sea levels. The priority area Climate Change Adaptation should therefore contribute to adapt to such impacts across populations, economic sectors and regions to ensure a more resilient Union through specific adaptation measures and strategies. Actions in this field should be complementary to actions eligible for funding under the civil protection financial instrument and should aim, where possible, to support cost- efficient use of funds by generating co- benefits with other environmental objectives.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Full implementation of environmental and climate legislation and policy is inextricably linked to achieving better governance, improving stakeholder involvement and disseminating information. Therefore, the priority areas Governance and Information should in both sub-programmes support the development of platforms and sharing of best practices for better compliance and enforcement, and to generate support from the public and stakeholders for Union's policy making efforts in the areas of environment and climate. In particular, they should support improvements in the dissemination of knowledge-base and best practices, raising awareness, public participation, access to information and access to justice on environmental matters.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to improve the implementation of environmental and climate policy and enhance the integration of environmental and climate objectives in other policies, the LIFE Programme should promote projects that support integrated approaches to the implementation of environmental and climate legislation and policy. For the sub-programme for Environment, those projects should focus primarily on the implementation of the Union Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, with particular regard to the effective management and consolidation of the Natura2000 network set up by Council Directive 92/43/EEC through the implementation of Prioritised Action Frameworks foreseen in Article 8 of the same Directive, of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy, and of the Waste and Air legislation. Those projects, while focusing on the themes identified, will be multi-purpose delivery mechanism (e.g. aiming at environmental benefits and capacity building) allowing to reach results in other policy areas, in particular Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). Those types of projects could be envisaged in other environmental areas. For the sub-programme for Climate Action, those projects should in particular concern climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and action plans. Those types of projects should support only a series of specific activities and measures, while other activities that complement those included in the project should be sourced from other Union funding programmes, as well as from national, regional and private sector funds. Funding through the LIFE Programme should exploit synergies and ensure consistency between different Union funding sources by providing a strategic environmental and climate focus. Integrated Projects should facilitate the 'mainstreaming approach' to environmental funding by improving the absorption capacity of other funds for environment-related and climate-related expenditure. Given the novelty and the lack of broad experience with the 'Integrated Project' approach, stakeholders should, when needed, be supported through an increased co- funding rate of up to 75% and technical assistance for the preparation phase. In addition, a two-step selection procedure should help to simplify the application phase. Exchanges concerning successful integrated approaches should be encouraged, involving all relevant sectors of administration and stakeholders. Based on experience of the first programming years, the factors determining the smooth functioning and success of Integrated Projects should be analysed. Based on that analysis and depending on funding available, additional areas might be added to the scope of Integrated Projects.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) Integrated Projects should serve as a model aimed at supporting Member States in using funds efficiently and in establishing constructive and continuous cooperation between different sectors of administration to address major implementation challenges. Given that those challenges exist throughout the Union, experience with the new project type should be as broad as possible. The Commission should encourage each Member State to submit at least three Integrated Projects in different areas over the programming period.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In order to carry out its role in the initiation of environmental and climate policy development and implementation, the Commission should use resources from the LIFE Programme to support the initiation, implementation and mainstreaming of Union environmental and climate policy and legislation, including the purchase of services and goods. Financial resources allocated to communication activities under this Regulation shall also cover corporate communication on the political priorities of the Union.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – title
Article 5 – title
Participation of overseas countries and territories and third countries in the LIFE Programme
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The LIFE Programme shall be open to the participation of the following countries and territories:
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) the overseas countries and territories referred to in Decision 2001/822/EC;
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. In accordance with their respective responsibilities, the Commission and the Member States shall ensure, where appropriate, coordination between the LIFE Programme and the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, in order to create synergies, particularly in the context of Integrated Projects referred to in Article 18 point (d) and also through the establishment of prioritised action frameworks referred to in Article 8 of Directive 92/43/EEC, and to support the use of solutions, methods and approaches developed under the LIFE Programme. At Union level, coordination shall take place within the Common Strategic Framework referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No….... (CSF Regulation).
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) to promote targeted dissemination of project results to interested stakeholders and potential future applicants; dissemination should be to those regions most appropriate for the particular subject area which are most likely to benefit from the sharing of positive experiences.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
In view of contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the priority area Climate Change Mitigation, while supporting, where possible, synergies with other environmental objectives, such as biodiversity, shall in particular have the following specific objectives:
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
In view of contributing to supporting efforts leading to increased resilience to climate change, the priority area Climate Change Adaptation, while supporting, where possible, synergies with other environmental objectives, such as biodiversity, shall in particular have the following specific objectives:
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) to promote targeted dissemination of project results to interested stakeholders and potential future applicants; dissemination should be to those regions most appropriate for the particular subject area which are most likely to benefit from the sharing of positive experiences.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 2
2. Where possible, projects financed by the LIFE Programme shall promote synergies between different objectives and promote the use of green public procurementthe use of green public procurement and shall promote synergies between different objectives. Projects aiming to deliver such synergies between different objectives shall be given priority during the award phase.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall ensure a proportionate distribution of all projects referred to in Article 18 by establishing indicative annual national allocations for the periods 2014-2017 and 2018-2020, based on the following criteria: (a) population: (i) the total population of each Member State. A weighting of 50 % shall be applied to this criterion; and (ii) the population density of each Member State, up to a limit of twice the Union's average population density. A weighting of 5 % shall be applied to this criterion; (b) nature and biodiversity: (i) the total area of sites of Community importance for each Member State, expressed as a proportion of the total area of sites of Community importance. A weighting of 25 % shall be applied to this criterion; and (ii) the proportion of a Member State's territory covered by sites of Community importance in relation to the proportion of Community territory covered by sites of Community importance. A weighting of 20 % shall be applied to this criterion.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. The maximum co-financing rate for the projects referred to in Article 18 shall be 750% of eligible costs. By way of exception, the maximum co-financing rate for projects referred to in Article 18 points (d) and (f) shall be 80% of eligible costsmay rise to 75% in the case of projects concerning priority habitats or species for the implementation of Directive 92/43/EEC or the species of birds considered as a priority for funding by the committee set up pursuant to Article 16 of Directive 79/409/EEC when this is necessary to achieve the conservation objective.