BETA


2012/2294(INI) Eco-innovation - Jobs and growth through environmental policy
Next event: Results of vote in Parliament 2013/12/12 more...

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead ENVI KADENBACH Karin (icon: S&D S&D) HIBNER Jolanta Emilia (icon: PPE PPE), GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan (icon: ALDE ALDE), CHRYSOGELOS Nikos (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina (icon: ECR ECR), MAŠTÁLKA Jiří (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion REGI NILSSON Jens (icon: S&D S&D)
Committee Opinion EMPL BENNION Phil (icon: ALDE ALDE) Georges BACH (icon: PPE PPE), Patrick LE HYARIC (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 052

Events

2013/12/12
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2013/12/12
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2013/12/12
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Eco-innovation - Jobs and Growth through environmental policy.

Parliament stressed that environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource scarcity and the degradation of biodiversity, require a radical transition of the economy, in which clean technologies play a key role . Eco-industries today provide 3.4 million jobs and an estimated annual turnover of EUR 319 billion. In many countries, Green Tech is already or will soon be the biggest employer.

Moreover, the scale of the crisis presents a unique and historic opportunity to bring forth transformational change in the EU economy , paving the way for sustainable long-term development.

In this context, the resolution made the following recommendations:

Sustainable growth and jobs : Parliament called on the Commission to continue working on an EU-wide vision of eco-innovation in the context of the shift to a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy, but also to focus on concrete targets, priority areas and milestones. It called for an ambitious sustainable industrial policy with an emphasis on resource efficiency. It also stressed that the success of eco-innovation requires more targeted and long-term investment .

The resolution highlighted the dual environmental and economic benefits of transition to a green sustainable economy, in terms of creating sustainable jobs , both in the EU and in the developing world. It recognised that a stable, long-term regulatory framework to promote sustainability should be developed using existing financial instruments.

The Commission is called upon to: (i) place eco-innovation at the centre of its industrial policy ; (ii) facilitate the development of labelling standards and clear definitions for the purpose of identifying and communicating the environmental credentials of products and services.

Member States are encouraged to develop strategies to align workforce skills with the opportunities offered by the Green Tech sector, looking to different subsectors and their needs for qualified workers.

Green growth is an opportunity for all sectors, which should therefore investigate development options for and raise consumer awareness of the importance of buying ‘green’ products.

The Eco-Innovation concept : Parliament also called on the Commission to map different perceptions of eco-innovation and its related challenges and to build a common understanding on the different strategic opportunities eco-innovation offers for the future.

It called on the Commission to:

include specific eco-innovation recommendations in the European Semester in order to promote sustainable growth; develop a systematic approach to eco-innovation policy; develop, with the Member States, eco-standards for public procurement.

Parliament stressed the importance of access to appropriate training and skills development within the framework of eco-innovation, in order to provide the required skilled workforce for employers, to equip young people with the necessary knowledge, skills and competences to become employable in terms of emerging innovation opportunities, and to facilitate worker transition from declining sectors to new, green sectors.

The EU, the Member States and the regions : the resolution underlined the need for mainstreaming the eco-innovation concept in all policy fields . It called on all key actors to work together on green growth, innovation and jobs in each sector.

The Commission and the Member States are invited to:

draw up new legislation and strengthen the existing legislation in the field of the development and use of renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency; improve the coordination of these policies, and in particular to support regional partnerships for growth, innovation, jobs and equal opportunities between women and men, as well as cross-border initiatives; provide incentives for businesses , in particular SMEs, to promote greater investment in private sector research and development (R&D) activities; enhance cross-border co-operation in order to ensure the diffusion of technology and best practices across the EU.

The resolution called for the horizontal integration of the concept of eco-innovation into the structural and cohesion funds. It urged the Member States to make use as soon as possible of the European Social Fund for programmes aimed at up-skilling, training and retraining employees.

Funding eco-innovation : Parliament pointed to benefits of fiscal policies and called on the Member States to shift taxes from employment to resource use and pollution, in order to boost eco-innovation. It urged the Commission to progressively phase out by 2020 all environmentally harmful subsidies , including subsidies and financial support on fossil fuels.

Parliament stressed that eco-innovation should benefit from the emerging EU financial instruments and vehicles of the Innovation Union and Resource-Efficient Europe Flagships , as well as the post-2013 Cohesion Policy and Horizon 2020 .

Members also welcomed the eco-innovation funding possibilities within the Common Agricultural Policy, and also under the COSME , Horizon 2020 and LIFE programmes, while insisting that more funding be made available to increase the practical application of eco-innovations already developed.

Lastly, the Commission is invited to allocate sufficient budget resources to ensure a smooth transition between the CIP and Horizon 2020 programmes and to programme clearly-defined, focused and reinforced resources for market replication projects, risk capital, networking and internationalisation for eco-innovations and their commercialisation in the EU by SMEs.

Documents
2013/12/12
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2013/10/17
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Details

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the own-initiative report by Karin KADENBACH (S&D, AT) on Eco-innovation - Jobs and Growth through environmental policy.

Members stressed that environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource scarcity and the degradation of biodiversity, require a radical transition of the economy, in which clean technologies play a key role.

Moreover, the scale of the crisis presents a unique and historic opportunity to bring forth transformational change in the EU economy , paving the way for sustainable long-term development.

General policies for creating smart, sustainable growth and jobs : Members called on the Commission to continue working on an EU-wide vision of eco-innovation in the context of the shift to a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy, but also to focus on concrete targets, priority areas and milestones. They called for an ambitious sustainable industrial policy with an emphasis on resource efficiency. They also stressed that the success of eco-innovation requires more targeted and long-term investment .

The report highlighted the dual environmental and economic benefits of transition to a green sustainable economy, in terms of creating sustainable jobs , both in the EU and in the developing world. They recognised that a stable, long-term regulatory framework to promote sustainability should be developed using existing financial instruments.

The Commission is called upon to: (i) place eco-innovation at the centre of its industrial policy ; (ii) facilitate the development of labelling standards and clear definitions for the purpose of identifying and communicating the environmental credentials of products and services.

Member States are encouraged to develop strategies to align workforce skills with the opportunities offered by the Green Tech sector, looking to different subsectors and their needs for qualified workers.

Green growth is an opportunity for all sectors, which should therefore investigate development options for and raise consumer awareness of the importance of buying ‘green’ products.

The Eco-Innovation concept : the report called on the Commission to map different perceptions of eco-innovation and its related challenges and to build a common understanding on the different strategic opportunities eco-innovation offers for the future.

It called on the Commission to:

include specific eco-innovation recommendations in the European Semester in order to promote sustainable growth; develop a systematic approach to eco-innovation policy; develop, with the Member States, eco-standards for public procurement.

The report also recommended promoting the creative and innovative potential of young people to contribute to sustainable development, and improving their access to funding.

The EU, the Member States and the regions : the report underlined the need for mainstreaming the eco-innovation concept in all policy fields . It called on all key actors to work together on green growth, innovation and jobs in each sector.

The Commission and the Member States are invited to:

draw up new legislation and strengthen the existing legislation in the field of the development and use of renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency; improve the coordination of these policies, and in particular to support regional partnerships for growth, innovation, jobs and equal opportunities between women and men, as well as cross-border initiatives; provide incentives for businesses , in particular SMEs, to promote greater investment in private sector research and development (R&D) activities; enhance cross-border co-operation in order to ensure the diffusion of technology and best practices across the EU.

The report called for the horizontal integration of the concept of eco-innovation into the structural and cohesion funds. It urged the Member States to make use as soon as possible of the European Social Fund for programmes aimed at up-skilling, training and retraining employees.

Funding eco-innovation : the report pointed to benefits of fiscal policies and called on the Member States to shift taxes from employment to resource use and pollution, in order to boost eco-innovation. It urged the Commission to progressively phase out by 2020 all environmentally harmful subsidies , including subsidies and financial support on fossil fuels.

Members stressed that eco-innovation should benefit from the emerging EU financial instruments and vehicles of the Innovation Union and Resource-Efficient Europe Flagships , as well as the post-2013 Cohesion Policy and Horizon 2020 .

They also welcomed the eco-innovation funding possibilities within the Common Agricultural Policy, and also under the COSME , Horizon 2020 and LIFE programmes, while insisting that more funding be made available to increase the practical application of eco-innovations already developed.

The Commission is called upon to implement the necessary instruments and allocate sufficient budget resources to ensure a smooth transition between the CIP and Horizon 2020 programmes as regards eco-innovation.

Documents
2013/09/25
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
2013/09/23
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2013/09/18
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2013/07/02
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2013/06/28
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2013/05/30
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2012/12/03
   EP - KADENBACH Karin (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in ENVI
2012/11/27
   EP - NILSSON Jens (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in REGI
2012/11/22
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2012/10/26
   EP - BENNION Phil (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in EMPL

Documents

Activities

AmendmentsDossier
149 2012/2294(INI)
2013/05/31 REGI 11 amendments...
source: PE-513.088
2013/06/28 ENVI 93 amendments...
source: PE-514.729
2013/07/03 EMPL 45 amendments...
source: PE-514.822

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
rapporteur
name: KADENBACH Karin date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
date
2012-12-03T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: KADENBACH Karin group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
rapporteur
name: BENNION Phil date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 group: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe abbr: ALDE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
date
2012-10-26T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: BENNION Phil group: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe abbr: ALDE
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Regional Development
committee
REGI
rapporteur
name: NILSSON Jens date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Regional Development
committee
REGI
date
2012-11-27T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: NILSSON Jens group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2013-333&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2013-0333_EN.html
events/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2013-0584
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2013-0584_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2012-11-22T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
  • date: 2013-09-25T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
  • date: 2013-10-17T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2013-333&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0333/2013 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2013-12-12T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=23569&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20131212&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2013-0584 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0584/2013 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
commission
  • body: EC dg: Environment commissioner: POTOČNIK Janez
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
date
2012-12-03T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: KADENBACH Karin group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
EMPL
date
2012-10-26T00:00:00
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
rapporteur
group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
date
2012-10-26T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: BENNION Phil group: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe abbr: ALDE
committees/1
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
ENVI
date
2012-12-03T00:00:00
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
rapporteur
group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Regional Development
committee
REGI
date
2012-11-27T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: NILSSON Jens group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
committees/2
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
REGI
date
2012-11-27T00:00:00
committee_full
Regional Development
rapporteur
group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
docs
  • date: 2013-05-30T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE513.016 title: PE513.016 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2013-06-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE514.729 title: PE514.729 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2013-07-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE510.644&secondRef=02 title: PE510.644 committee: REGI type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2013-09-18T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE510.625&secondRef=02 title: PE510.625 committee: EMPL type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2013-09-23T00:00:00 docs: title: PE519.555 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
events
  • date: 2012-11-22T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2013-09-25T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2013-10-17T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2013-333&language=EN title: A7-0333/2013 summary: The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the own-initiative report by Karin KADENBACH (S&D, AT) on Eco-innovation - Jobs and Growth through environmental policy. Members stressed that environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource scarcity and the degradation of biodiversity, require a radical transition of the economy, in which clean technologies play a key role. Moreover, the scale of the crisis presents a unique and historic opportunity to bring forth transformational change in the EU economy , paving the way for sustainable long-term development. General policies for creating smart, sustainable growth and jobs : Members called on the Commission to continue working on an EU-wide vision of eco-innovation in the context of the shift to a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy, but also to focus on concrete targets, priority areas and milestones. They called for an ambitious sustainable industrial policy with an emphasis on resource efficiency. They also stressed that the success of eco-innovation requires more targeted and long-term investment . The report highlighted the dual environmental and economic benefits of transition to a green sustainable economy, in terms of creating sustainable jobs , both in the EU and in the developing world. They recognised that a stable, long-term regulatory framework to promote sustainability should be developed using existing financial instruments. The Commission is called upon to: (i) place eco-innovation at the centre of its industrial policy ; (ii) facilitate the development of labelling standards and clear definitions for the purpose of identifying and communicating the environmental credentials of products and services. Member States are encouraged to develop strategies to align workforce skills with the opportunities offered by the Green Tech sector, looking to different subsectors and their needs for qualified workers. Green growth is an opportunity for all sectors, which should therefore investigate development options for and raise consumer awareness of the importance of buying ‘green’ products. The Eco-Innovation concept : the report called on the Commission to map different perceptions of eco-innovation and its related challenges and to build a common understanding on the different strategic opportunities eco-innovation offers for the future. It called on the Commission to: include specific eco-innovation recommendations in the European Semester in order to promote sustainable growth; develop a systematic approach to eco-innovation policy; develop, with the Member States, eco-standards for public procurement. The report also recommended promoting the creative and innovative potential of young people to contribute to sustainable development, and improving their access to funding. The EU, the Member States and the regions : the report underlined the need for mainstreaming the eco-innovation concept in all policy fields . It called on all key actors to work together on green growth, innovation and jobs in each sector. The Commission and the Member States are invited to: draw up new legislation and strengthen the existing legislation in the field of the development and use of renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency; improve the coordination of these policies, and in particular to support regional partnerships for growth, innovation, jobs and equal opportunities between women and men, as well as cross-border initiatives; provide incentives for businesses , in particular SMEs, to promote greater investment in private sector research and development (R&D) activities; enhance cross-border co-operation in order to ensure the diffusion of technology and best practices across the EU. The report called for the horizontal integration of the concept of eco-innovation into the structural and cohesion funds. It urged the Member States to make use as soon as possible of the European Social Fund for programmes aimed at up-skilling, training and retraining employees. Funding eco-innovation : the report pointed to benefits of fiscal policies and called on the Member States to shift taxes from employment to resource use and pollution, in order to boost eco-innovation. It urged the Commission to progressively phase out by 2020 all environmentally harmful subsidies , including subsidies and financial support on fossil fuels. Members stressed that eco-innovation should benefit from the emerging EU financial instruments and vehicles of the Innovation Union and Resource-Efficient Europe Flagships , as well as the post-2013 Cohesion Policy and Horizon 2020 . They also welcomed the eco-innovation funding possibilities within the Common Agricultural Policy, and also under the COSME , Horizon 2020 and LIFE programmes, while insisting that more funding be made available to increase the practical application of eco-innovations already developed. The Commission is called upon to implement the necessary instruments and allocate sufficient budget resources to ensure a smooth transition between the CIP and Horizon 2020 programmes as regards eco-innovation.
  • date: 2013-12-12T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=23569&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2013-12-12T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20131212&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2013-12-12T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2013-0584 title: T7-0584/2013 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Eco-innovation - Jobs and Growth through environmental policy. Parliament stressed that environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource scarcity and the degradation of biodiversity, require a radical transition of the economy, in which clean technologies play a key role . Eco-industries today provide 3.4 million jobs and an estimated annual turnover of EUR 319 billion. In many countries, Green Tech is already or will soon be the biggest employer. Moreover, the scale of the crisis presents a unique and historic opportunity to bring forth transformational change in the EU economy , paving the way for sustainable long-term development. In this context, the resolution made the following recommendations: Sustainable growth and jobs : Parliament called on the Commission to continue working on an EU-wide vision of eco-innovation in the context of the shift to a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy, but also to focus on concrete targets, priority areas and milestones. It called for an ambitious sustainable industrial policy with an emphasis on resource efficiency. It also stressed that the success of eco-innovation requires more targeted and long-term investment . The resolution highlighted the dual environmental and economic benefits of transition to a green sustainable economy, in terms of creating sustainable jobs , both in the EU and in the developing world. It recognised that a stable, long-term regulatory framework to promote sustainability should be developed using existing financial instruments. The Commission is called upon to: (i) place eco-innovation at the centre of its industrial policy ; (ii) facilitate the development of labelling standards and clear definitions for the purpose of identifying and communicating the environmental credentials of products and services. Member States are encouraged to develop strategies to align workforce skills with the opportunities offered by the Green Tech sector, looking to different subsectors and their needs for qualified workers. Green growth is an opportunity for all sectors, which should therefore investigate development options for and raise consumer awareness of the importance of buying ‘green’ products. The Eco-Innovation concept : Parliament also called on the Commission to map different perceptions of eco-innovation and its related challenges and to build a common understanding on the different strategic opportunities eco-innovation offers for the future. It called on the Commission to: include specific eco-innovation recommendations in the European Semester in order to promote sustainable growth; develop a systematic approach to eco-innovation policy; develop, with the Member States, eco-standards for public procurement. Parliament stressed the importance of access to appropriate training and skills development within the framework of eco-innovation, in order to provide the required skilled workforce for employers, to equip young people with the necessary knowledge, skills and competences to become employable in terms of emerging innovation opportunities, and to facilitate worker transition from declining sectors to new, green sectors. The EU, the Member States and the regions : the resolution underlined the need for mainstreaming the eco-innovation concept in all policy fields . It called on all key actors to work together on green growth, innovation and jobs in each sector. The Commission and the Member States are invited to: draw up new legislation and strengthen the existing legislation in the field of the development and use of renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency; improve the coordination of these policies, and in particular to support regional partnerships for growth, innovation, jobs and equal opportunities between women and men, as well as cross-border initiatives; provide incentives for businesses , in particular SMEs, to promote greater investment in private sector research and development (R&D) activities; enhance cross-border co-operation in order to ensure the diffusion of technology and best practices across the EU. The resolution called for the horizontal integration of the concept of eco-innovation into the structural and cohesion funds. It urged the Member States to make use as soon as possible of the European Social Fund for programmes aimed at up-skilling, training and retraining employees. Funding eco-innovation : Parliament pointed to benefits of fiscal policies and called on the Member States to shift taxes from employment to resource use and pollution, in order to boost eco-innovation. It urged the Commission to progressively phase out by 2020 all environmentally harmful subsidies , including subsidies and financial support on fossil fuels. Parliament stressed that eco-innovation should benefit from the emerging EU financial instruments and vehicles of the Innovation Union and Resource-Efficient Europe Flagships , as well as the post-2013 Cohesion Policy and Horizon 2020 . Members also welcomed the eco-innovation funding possibilities within the Common Agricultural Policy, and also under the COSME , Horizon 2020 and LIFE programmes, while insisting that more funding be made available to increase the practical application of eco-innovations already developed. Lastly, the Commission is invited to allocate sufficient budget resources to ensure a smooth transition between the CIP and Horizon 2020 programmes and to programme clearly-defined, focused and reinforced resources for market replication projects, risk capital, networking and internationalisation for eco-innovations and their commercialisation in the EU by SMEs.
  • date: 2013-12-12T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/ title: Environment commissioner: POTOČNIK Janez
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
New
Rules of Procedure EP 150
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
ENVI/7/10647
New
  • ENVI/7/10647
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 052
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.50.04 Innovation
  • 3.70 Environmental policy
  • 3.70.20 Sustainable development
  • 5.05 Economic growth
New
3.50.04
Innovation
3.70
Environmental policy
3.70.20
Sustainable development
5.05
Economic growth
activities/0
date
2012-11-22T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
committees
activities/0/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
  • body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/0/date
Old
2013-12-12T00:00:00
New
2012-11-22T00:00:00
activities/0/docs
  • type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0584/2013
activities/0/type
Old
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
activities/1/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
  • body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/1/date
Old
2013-05-30T00:00:00
New
2013-09-25T00:00:00
activities/1/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE513.016 type: Committee draft report title: PE513.016
activities/1/type
Old
Committee draft report
New
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
activities/2
date
2013-06-28T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE514.729 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE514.729
body
EP
type
Amendments tabled in committee
activities/3
date
2013-09-23T00:00:00
docs
type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE519.555
body
EP
type
Amendments tabled in committee
activities/3/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
  • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/3/date
Old
2013-09-25T00:00:00
New
2013-12-12T00:00:00
activities/3/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=23569&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20131212&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2013-0584 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0584/2013
activities/3/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Results of vote in Parliament
committees/1/rapporteur/0/mepref
Old
4de185fc0fb8127435bdbfbf
New
4f1ac963b819f25efd000132
committees/1/shadows/0/group
Old
EPP
New
PPE
committees/1/shadows/0/mepref
Old
4de185740fb8127435bdbf01
New
4f1ac90eb819f25efd00010a
committees/1/shadows/1/mepref
Old
4de185240fb8127435bdbe92
New
4f1ac83bb819f25efd0000d5
committees/1/shadows/3/mepref
Old
4de189760fb8127435bdc4a5
New
4f1adcb3b819f207b3000131
committees/1/shadows/4/mepref
Old
4de186c20fb8127435bdc0db
New
4f1ad979b819f207b300001b
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
New
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
procedure/legal_basis/0
Old
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 048
New
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
activities/6
date
2013-12-12T00:00:00
docs
type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0584/2013
body
EP
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
New
Procedure completed
activities/6
date
2013-12-12T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Debate in plenary scheduled
activities/6/date
Old
2013-12-09T00:00:00
New
2013-12-12T00:00:00
activities/7
date
2013-12-10T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in plenary scheduled
activities/5/docs/0/text
  • The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the own-initiative report by Karin KADENBACH (S&D, AT) on Eco-innovation - Jobs and Growth through environmental policy.

    Members stressed that environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource scarcity and the degradation of biodiversity, require a radical transition of the economy, in which clean technologies play a key role.

    Moreover, the scale of the crisis presents a unique and historic opportunity to bring forth transformational change in the EU economy, paving the way for sustainable long-term development.

    General policies for creating smart, sustainable growth and jobs: Members called on the Commission to continue working on an EU-wide vision of eco-innovation in the context of the shift to a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy, but also to focus on concrete targets, priority areas and milestones. They called for an ambitious sustainable industrial policy with an emphasis on resource efficiency. They also stressed that the success of eco-innovation requires more targeted and long-term investment.

    The report highlighted the dual environmental and economic benefits of transition to a green sustainable economy, in terms of creating sustainable jobs, both in the EU and in the developing world. They recognised that a stable, long-term regulatory framework to promote sustainability should be developed using existing financial instruments.

    The Commission is called upon to: (i) place eco-innovation at the centre of its industrial policy; (ii) facilitate the development of labelling standards and clear definitions for the purpose of identifying and communicating the environmental credentials of products and services.

    Member States are encouraged to develop strategies to align workforce skills with the opportunities offered by the Green Tech sector, looking to different subsectors and their needs for qualified workers.

    Green growth is an opportunity for all sectors, which should therefore investigate development options for and raise consumer awareness of the importance of buying ‘green’ products.

    The Eco-Innovation concept: the report called on the Commission to map different perceptions of eco-innovation and its related challenges and to build a common understanding on the different strategic opportunities eco-innovation offers for the future.

    It called on the Commission to:

    • include specific eco-innovation recommendations in the European Semester in order to promote sustainable growth;
    • develop a systematic approach to eco-innovation policy;
    • develop, with the Member States, eco-standards for public procurement.

    The report also recommended promoting the creative and innovative potential of young people to contribute to sustainable development, and improving their access to funding.

    The EU, the Member States and the regions: the report underlined the need for mainstreaming the eco-innovation concept in all policy fields. It called on all key actors to work together on green growth, innovation and jobs in each sector.

    The Commission and the Member States are invited to:

    • draw up new legislation and strengthen the existing legislation in the field of the development and use of renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency;
    • improve the coordination of these policies, and in particular to support regional partnerships for growth, innovation, jobs and equal opportunities between women and men, as well as cross-border initiatives;
    • provide incentives for businesses, in particular SMEs, to promote greater investment in private sector research and development (R&D) activities;
    • enhance cross-border co-operation in order to ensure the diffusion of technology and best practices across the EU.

    The report called for the horizontal integration of the concept of eco-innovation into the structural and cohesion funds. It urged the Member States to make use as soon as possible of the European Social Fund for programmes aimed at up-skilling, training and retraining employees.

    Funding eco-innovation: the report pointed to benefits of fiscal policies and called on the Member States to shift taxes from employment to resource use and pollution, in order to boost eco-innovation. It urged the Commission to progressively phase out by 2020 all environmentally harmful subsidies, including subsidies and financial support on fossil fuels.

    Members stressed that eco-innovation should benefit from the emerging EU financial instruments and vehicles of the Innovation Union and Resource-Efficient Europe Flagships, as well as the post-2013 Cohesion Policy and Horizon 2020.

    They also welcomed the eco-innovation funding possibilities within the Common Agricultural Policy, and also under the COSME, Horizon 2020 and LIFE programmes, while insisting that more funding be made available to increase the practical application of eco-innovations already developed.

    The Commission is called upon to implement the necessary instruments and allocate sufficient budget resources to ensure a smooth transition between the CIP and Horizon 2020 programmes as regards eco-innovation.

activities/6/date
Old
2013-12-11T00:00:00
New
2013-12-09T00:00:00
activities/6/type
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
New
Debate in plenary scheduled
activities/7
date
2013-12-10T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in plenary scheduled
activities/6/date
Old
2013-12-09T00:00:00
New
2013-12-11T00:00:00
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
procedure/legal_basis/1
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
activities/5/docs/0/url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2013-333&language=EN
activities/6/date
Old
2013-11-18T00:00:00
New
2013-12-09T00:00:00
other/0/commissioner
Old
ANDOR László
New
POTOČNIK Janez
other/0/dg/title
Old
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
New
Environment
other/0/dg/url
Old
http://ec.europa.eu/social/
New
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/
activities/5
date
2013-10-17T00:00:00
docs
type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0333/2013
body
EP
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
procedure/legal_basis/1
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
procedure/?!oeil-proposed_legal_basis!?
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
activities/4/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
  • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/4/type
Old
Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/?!oeil-proposed_legal_basis!?
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
activities/4/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
  • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/4/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/legal_basis/1
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
activities/4/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
  • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/4/type
Old
Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/legal_basis/1
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
activities/4/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: EMPL date: 2012-10-26T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
  • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia group: ALDE name: GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan group: Verts/ALE name: CHRYSOGELOS Nikos group: ECR name: YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina group: GUE/NGL name: MAŠTÁLKA Jiří responsible: True committee: ENVI date: 2012-12-03T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: REGI date: 2012-11-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Regional Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/4/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/legal_basis/1
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
activities/4
date
2013-09-25T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
committees
procedure/legal_basis/1
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 138
activities/2
date
2013-06-28T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE514.729 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE514.729
body
EP
type
Amendments tabled in committee
activities/2/date
Old
2013-09-25T00:00:00
New
2013-06-28T00:00:00
activities/2/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE514.729 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE514.729
activities/2/type
Old
Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Amendments tabled in committee
activities/3
date
2013-09-23T00:00:00
docs
type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE519.555
body
EP
type
Amendments tabled in committee
procedure/subject/3
Old
5.05 Sustainable economic growth
New
5.05 Economic growth
activities/2/docs/0/url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE514.729
activities/2
date
2013-06-28T00:00:00
docs
type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE514.729
body
EP
type
Amendments tabled in committee
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
New
Awaiting committee decision
activities/3/date
Old
2013-12-09T00:00:00
New
2013-11-18T00:00:00
activities/2/date
Old
2013-11-05T00:00:00
New
2013-09-25T00:00:00
activities/1/docs/0/url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE513.016
activities/1
date
2013-05-30T00:00:00
docs
type: Committee draft report title: PE513.016
body
EP
type
Committee draft report
procedure/subject/3
Old
5.05 Sustainable development and growth
New
5.05 Sustainable economic growth
activities/0/committees/0/date
2012-10-26T00:00:00
activities/0/committees/0/rapporteur
  • group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
committees/0/date
2012-10-26T00:00:00
committees/0/rapporteur
  • group: ALDE name: BENNION Phil
activities/0/committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
activities/2
date
2013-12-09T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
activities/1
date
2013-11-05T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
activities/0/committees/0/shadows/2
group
Verts/ALE
name
CHRYSOGELOS Nikos
activities/0/committees/1/date
2012-11-27T00:00:00
activities/0/committees/1/rapporteur
  • group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
committees/0/shadows/2
group
Verts/ALE
name
CHRYSOGELOS Nikos
committees/1/date
2012-11-27T00:00:00
committees/1/rapporteur
  • group: S&D name: NILSSON Jens
activities/0/committees/0/shadows/3
group
GUE/NGL
name
MAŠTÁLKA Jiří
committees/0/shadows/3
group
GUE/NGL
name
MAŠTÁLKA Jiří
activities/0/committees/0/date
2012-12-03T00:00:00
activities/0/committees/0/rapporteur
  • group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
activities/0/committees/0/shadows/1
group
ALDE
name
GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan
activities/0/committees/0/shadows/2
group
ECR
name
YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina
committees/0/date
2012-12-03T00:00:00
committees/0/rapporteur
  • group: S&D name: KADENBACH Karin
committees/0/shadows/1
group
ALDE
name
GERBRANDY Gerben-Jan
committees/0/shadows/2
group
ECR
name
YANNAKOUDAKIS Marina
activities/0
date
2012-11-22T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
committees
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
ENVI/7/10647
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
activities
    committees
    • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: HIBNER Jolanta Emilia responsible: True committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Regional Development committee: REGI
    links
    other
    • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/social/ title: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion commissioner: ANDOR László
    procedure
    reference
    2012/2294(INI)
    title
    Eco-innovation - Jobs and growth through environmental policy
    legal_basis
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 048
    stage_reached
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    subtype
    Initiative
    type
    INI - Own-initiative procedure
    subject