PURPOSE: as part of the framework programme for energy 1998-2002 to implement a specific multiannual programme to promote renewable energy resources in the Community (ALTENER). COMMUNITY MEASURE: Decision 646/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community (ALTENER) (1999-2002). CONTENT: this Decision adopts allows the continuation of the Altener programme. Its main objectives are as follow: - to help to create the necessary conditions for the implementation of a Community action plan for renewable energy resources; - to encourage private and public investment in the production and use of energy from renewable sources. The Altener programme, for which the Commission proposes a budget of EUR 77 million for the period 1998-2002, will comprise 6 types of projects and measures: 1) studies and other actions intended to implement and complement Community measures taken to develop the potential of renewable energy sources, e.g. sectoral and market strategies, the development of norms and standards, grouped procurement and legislation; 2) pilot action plans aimed at creating or extending infrastructures and instruments for the development of renewable energy sources in: local and regional planning; the tools for planning, design and evaluation; new financial and market instruments; information; education and training; 3) measures proposed by the Commission to encourage the dissemination of information (exchanges of experience and know-how; establishment of a centralized system for collecting and circulating information); 4) measures to encourage the dissemination of information proposed by the entities other than the Commission (e.g. universities, public bodies, private organisations); 5) new targeted actions facilitating the market penetration of renewable energy resources and encouraging investment in the following areas: biomass; thermal and photovoltaic solar systems; passive and active solar systems in buildings; small-scale hydroelectric projects; wind power; 6) new actions intended to implement and monitor the Community strategy for renewable energy sources (implementation of an action plan, improvement of synergy between actions, monitoring of progress). The overall aim of these measures is to attain the priority objectives of the Union, namely: to limit carbon dioxide emissions, to increase the share of renewable energy, to achieve security of supply and to promote cohesion and local and regional development.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 19.03.2000.

The European Parliament approves the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee regarding the adoption of the ALTENER Programme.

The European Parliament approves the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee regarding the adoption of the ALTENER Programme.

Since the current programmes will expire at the end of this year and the Council cannot accept all of the amendments adopted (8), the Finnish Presidency decided to convene the Conciliation Committee in the near future. The constituent meeting of the delegation took place on 20 October 1999. As regards the substance, the disagreement with the Council appears to revolve around the budget issue, since Parliament is proposing that the funding for ALTENER II be increased by EUR 7.1 m.

The Commission accepted either partially or in their totality seven of the eight amendments proposed by the Parliament, and, in particular, that which sought to reinstate the budgetary allocation initially proposed by the Commission, i.e. EUR 81.1 million. These amendments have been incorporated in the new amended proposal.

In approving the Council's common position, Parliament passed a number of amendments designed to promote the export of renewable, restore the 81.1 million EURO budget as originally proposed by the Commission, and to reaffirm Parliament's support for a Charter on Renewable Energy (Eurenew) to be drawn up. There was also an amendment regarding improving the involvement of the European Parliament in view of the new procedures established under Council Decision 99/468/EC. Parliament's Rapporteur was Mr. Werner Langen (D, EPP/ED).

In approving the Council's common position, Parliament passed a number of amendments designed to promote the export of renewable, restore the 81.1 million EURO budget as originally proposed by the Commission, and to reaffirm Parliament's support for a Charter on Renewable Energy (Eurenew) to be drawn up. There was also an amendment regarding improving the involvement of the European Parliament in view of the new procedures established under Council Decision 99/468/EC. Parliament's Rapporteur was Mr. Werner Langen (D, EPP/ED).

The Committee adopted the draft recommendation for second reading regarding the Council's common position on the multi-annual programme (1998-2002): for the promotion of renewable energy sources ALTENER (rapporteur: Werner Langen (EPP-ED, D)).

This proposal under the codecision procedure is part of the framework programme for actions in the energy sector. Altener II had to be adopted for a provisional period of two years by means of a Council Decision of 18 May 1998.

Altener II accounts for 40% t of the funds available for a single programme under the energy framework programme. In connection with the Altener II programme the Committee reiterated Parliament's call for a Charter on Renewable Energies (EURENEW) to be drawn up. The financial framework for the Altener programme should be EUR 81,1 million for the period 1998-2002 (where the Council had proposed only 74 million) and 51,5 million for the period 2000-2002. Subject to amendments, the Committee will recommend that Parliament approves the common positions.

The common position is largely in line with and supportive of the Commission's amended proposal. In several instances, the common position streamlines and updates the Commission's proposal, as well as setting it clearly in the context of the Multiannual Energy Framework Programme.

The Council's common position takes up either wholly or partially 16 amendments adopted by the European Parliament in its first reading and accepted by the Commission. On several points, the common position simplifies and updates the Commission's proposal in setting it clearly in the context of the Multiannual Energy Framework Programme for the energy sector adopted in Council Decision 1999/21/EC. Furthermore, the common position adds a reference to the financial framework for the implementation of the ALTENER Programme of 74 million euros (29.6 million euros for 1998-99 - and 44.4 million euros for 2000-2002 § this latter amount shall be reviewed if it is not consistent with the financial perspective for that period). The programme will be reviewed, bearing in mind the priority given to activities undertaken in the energy field, before the end of the year 2000.

The Council's common position takes up either wholly or partially 16 amendments adopted by the European Parliament in its first reading and accepted by the Commission. On several points, the common position simplifies and updates the Commission's proposal in setting it clearly in the context of the Multiannual Energy Framework Programme for the energy sector adopted in Council Decision 1999/21/EC. Furthermore, the common position adds a reference to the financial framework for the implementation of the ALTENER Programme of 74 million euros (29.6 million euros for 1998-99 - and 44.4 million euros for 2000-2002 § this latter amount shall be reviewed if it is not consistent with the financial perspective for that period). The programme will be reviewed, bearing in mind the priority given to activities undertaken in the energy field, before the end of the year 2000.

The amended proposal takes into account most of the amendments adopted by the Parliament that strengthen and clarify the initial proposals, in particular for what concerns the basic objectives of the programme and the implementation of the White Paper for a Community Strategy and an Action Plan to 2010 'Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy. The main concerns of the Parliament coincide with those of the Commission.

Following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam on 01/05/99, the European Parliament confirmed as its first reading under codecision procedure its vote of 11/03/99 on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community - ALTENER II.

Following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam on 01/05/99, the European Parliament confirmed as its first reading under codecision procedure its vote of 11/03/99 on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision adopting a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community - ALTENER II.

The Parliament adopted the text of the Commission's proposal subject to a number of amendments. Parliament's rapporteur was Mr Carlos ROBLES PIQUER (EPP, Spain). A number of the amendments emphasise the importance of renewables in contributing to cleaning up the environment, as well as their job creating potential. The Parliament stresses the importance of establishing the bases for the development of new instruments and mechanisms which will allow faster co-ordinated market penetration of all sustainable energy technologies. One amendment relating to targeted actions emphasises the need for actions to support the transition stage between demonstration and marketing.�

The Parliament adopted the text of the Commission's proposal subject to a number of amendments. Parliament's rapporteur was Mr Carlos ROBLES PIQUER (EPP, Spain). A number of the amendments emphasise the importance of renewables in contributing to cleaning up the environment, as well as their job creating potential. The Parliament stresses the importance of establishing the bases for the development of new instruments and mechanisms which will allow faster co-ordinated market penetration of all sustainable energy technologies. One amendment relating to targeted actions emphasises the need for actions to support the transition stage between demonstration and marketing.�

The Committee approved, subject to a number of amendments, the Commission proposals for Council decisions concerning two multi-annual programmes (1998-2002) for the promotion of renewable energy sources (Rapporteur: Mr ROBLES PIQUER (PPE,E)) (cooperation procedure, 1st reading; it should be noted that codecision will be applicable to the programme after the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty). The proposal is part of the multi-annual framework programme for actions in the energy sector. The latter (Altener II) has a forerunner in the first Altener programme, which expired on 31 December 1997. For the sake of continuity in Community policy, Altener II had to be adopted for a provisional period of two years by means of a Council Decision of 18 May 1998. It should be noted that with 40% Altener II accounts for most of the funding available for a single programme under the energy framework programme. In connection with the Altener II programme, the Energy Committee would like the Commission to look into the possibility of coordinating policies and initiatives in the sphere of energy saving and energy efficiency in order to develop potential synergies and avoid the duplication of effort. The committee reiterated Parliament·s call of last May for a Charter on Renewable Energies (EURENEW) to be drawn up. Altener II should contribute to achieving the Community objective of replacing, by the year 2010, the equivalent of 15% of the demand for primary energy by renewable energies. One of the objectives of Altener II should be the development of mechanisms to increase the competitiveness of renewable energies and allow faster coordinated market penetration of sustainable energy technologies. The committee further emphasizes the potential of renewable energies to create new jobs and encourage innovation, with due regard to the interests of SMEs. The committee insists finally on the need to promote the export of renewable energy technology through its inclusion in the energy and cooperation areas of external policy and calls for studies to complement the measures taken by the Member States, and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe with an aim to develop the potential of renewable energy.

OBJECTIVE: as part of the framework programme for energy 1998-2002 (CNS97302), to implement a specific multiannual programme to promote renewable energy resources in the Community (ALTENER II).

SUBSTANCE: the Commission proposes continuing the ALTENER programme, the main objectives of which are as follows:

- to help to create the necessary conditions for the implementation of a Community action plan for renewable energy sources;

- to encourage private and public investment in the production and use of energy from renewable sources.

The ALTENER II programme, for which the Commission proposes a budget of ECU 81.1 m for 1998-2002, will comprise six types of project and measure:

1) studies and other actions intended to implement and complement Community measures taken to develop the potential of renewable energy sources, e.g. sectoral and market strategies, the development of norms and standards, grouped procurement and legislation;

2) pilot actions aimed at creating or extending infrastructures and instruments for the development of renewable energy sources in: local and regional planning; the tools for planning, design and evaluation; new financial and market instruments; information; education and training;

3) measures proposed by the Commission to encourage the dissemination of information (exchanges of experience and know-how; establishment of a centralized system for collecting and circulating information);

4) measures to encourage the dissemination of information proposed by entities other than the Commission (e.g. universities, public bodies, private organizations, etc.);

5) new targeted actions facilitating the market penetration of renewable energy sources and encouraging investment in the following areas: biomass; thermal and photovoltaic solar systems; passive and active solar systems in buildings; small-scale hydroelectric projects; wind power; geothermal energy;

6) new actions intended to implement and monitor the Community strategy for renewable energy sources (implementation of an action plan, improvement of synergy between actions, monitoring of progress).

The overall aim of all these measures is to attain the priority objectives of the Union, namely: to limit carbon dioxide emissions, to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy balance, to reduce dependence on imported energy, to achieve security of supply and to promote cohesion and local and regional development.