Procedure completed
Next event: Amendments tabled in committee 2013/06/12 more...
- Text adopted by Parliament, single reading 2013/09/10
- Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading 2013/07/10
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading 2013/07/18
- Debate in Parliament 2013/09/09
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Opinion | ITRE | RANSDORF Miloslav (GUE/NGL) | |
Lead | REGI | KLEVA KEKUŠ Mojca (S&D) | KOLARSKA-BOBIŃSKA Lena (EPP), DELLI Karima (Verts/ALE) |
Legal Basis RoP 048, RoP 138
Activites
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2013/09/10
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
- T7-0345/2013
- 2013/09/09 Debate in Parliament
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2013/07/18
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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A7-0271/2013
summary
The Committee on Regional Development adopted the own-initiative report by Mojca KLEVA KEKUŠ (S&D, SI) on the implementation and impact of the energy efficiency (EE) measures under Cohesion Policy. The report supports the EU’s commitment to achieve the objective of increasing EE by 20 % by 2020 and asks the Member States to pave the way for further savings beyond this date. The experience of the current funding period shows that the funds set aside for energy efficiency from the European Structural and Investment Funds cannot be fully exploited. The report stresses, therefore, that in the financial framework for 2014-2020 – in which the share of funding set aside for energy efficiency is greater than before – care must be taken to facilitate access by local and regional authorities to these funds. Members note that European Structural and Investment Funds could help provide incentives for private investment in energy-efficient products, transport modes, buildings, industry, works and services. The report stresses that the Member States should see the use of European Structural and Investment Funds for EE as an investment opportunity with a high leverage effect and not as an expenditure. It calls on the Commission to revise the rules on State Aids further in order to allow greater national funding for EE alongside European investments. (1) Importance of the buildings sector: Members welcome the new opportunities offered by, and the more important role in realising the EE objectives given to, the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund in the programming period 2014-2020. They support in particular the future role of Cohesion Policy funding in the entire building sector, including housing. The report points out that in 2010 the energy consumption in buildings constituted the largest share of the total final energy consumption in the EU – 40%, of which households accounted for 26.7% – and that this consumption accounted for 36 % of the Union’s CO2 emissions. The Commission is called upon to find ways to encourage efforts to ensure that the greatest energy saving potential does not remain untapped by delivering proposals for clear objectives as regards to the energy consumption of buildings in Member States. The Member States are urged to: (i) introduce, within their operational programmes, simple and non-bureaucratic procedures for the use of funding earmarked for the improvement of household energy efficiency; (ii) ensure that decentralisation arrangements give municipal authorities direct access to funding for household energy efficiency; (iii) maximise the use of national and regional programmes to ensure that a high degree of EE is designed into new buildings. (2) Raising awareness and information dissemination: the report highlights that the lack of detailed information regarding the characteristics of the building stock at the regional level presents a major barrier for national and regional authorities when formulating strategies and plans. The Commission is called upon to improve the quality and the dissemination of practical information on EE issues available to local and regional authorities. It encourages the Managing Authorities, in the programming period 2014-2020, to promote integrated projects by adopting a holistic approach to EE on a territorial level. (3) Capacity building and technical assistance: the report invites the Member States to increase capacity building, using technical assistance budgets, in order to strengthen the effective participation of local, regional and civil society actors in the design of regional and local energy strategies. It encourages Member States to continue to use funds to provide technical assistance at all levels. The report encourages further administrative support to local and regional authorities in order to assist them create groupings of small and medium-sized energy efficiency projects. (4) Role of financial instruments: the report stresses that a combination of grants and Financial Instruments (FI) can serve as a successful and innovative approach to leverage private funding, create new models of private-public partnerships and enhance innovation. The Commission is invited to: (i) present without delay proposals for off-the-shelf FI to be available in support of EE measures; (ii) improve further the targeted financial support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and the European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF) for EE projects. Member States are called upon to share best practices in the design of national energy efficiency funds, whereby European Structural and Investment Funds can be used as equity contributions, or similar, and be aligned with additional funding sources from the private sector. (5) Climate realities: the report highlights the importance of regularly assessing whether EE measures and requirements are still adequate given climate realities and calls on the Commission to consider this carefully when preparing a set of performance indicators. Members call on the Member States to set demanding targets for ensuring that public buildings, and buildings serving other purposes, meet the highest EE standards provided by in Directive 2010/31/EU, and to make them subject to energy certification on a regular basis. Lastly, the report stresses the need to take account as well of the specific geographical characteristics of the outermost regions (OR) with regard to EE.
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A7-0271/2013
summary
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2013/07/10
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
- 2013/06/12 Amendments tabled in committee
- 2013/05/08 Committee draft report
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2013/03/14
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE513.322
- Committee draft report: PE510.707
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0345/2013
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0271/2013
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
Amendments | Dossier |
29 |
2013/2038(INI)
2013/05/07
ITRE
29 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 (new) -1. Recalls that the Parliament already adopted the report on the role of EU cohesion policy and its actors in implementing the new European energy policy, and that this report also covers energy efficiency issues;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that Member States should not await the final deadline for the implementation of Directive 2010/31/EC and should invest in the development of new and more energy-efficient materials and technologies for the purposes of job creation, industrial recovery and the increased competitiveness of EU regions;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Notes that National Energy Efficiency Plans and their implementation are reported on under the National Reform Plans and the EU Economic Semester in recognition of the positive economic impact of energy efficiency measures;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Underlines the potential benefits available under the JESSICA and ELENA initiatives for sustainable energy investment at local level, with a view to helping cities and regions embark on viable investment projects in the fields of energy efficiency and calls for the promotion of these initiatives;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Considers it to be of paramount importance to be able to use the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund and other financial and leverage instruments to finance energy efficiency in particular in the housing sector; calls on the Commission and the Member States to disseminate clear, easily accessible information on the financial instruments, incentives, grants and loans available to support energy efficiency service projects;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 d (new) 3d. Stresses the importance of integrating energy efficiency dimension into the research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation that Member States and regions will have to design in order to access innovation funding under the future cohesion policy;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Is concerned about r
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Is concerned about recent developments in countries such as Bulgaria, where high energy prices have caused social unrest, and calls for targeted
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises in particular the potential social benefits of investments in energy efficiency as they can contribute to reducing energy bills for
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Recalls in particular the energy saving potential of public
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Recalls in particular the energy saving potential of public buildings and housing, which represent 40 % of the Union's final energy consumption and urges Member States to swiftly adopt ambitious long-term strategies beyond 2020 for mobilising investment in the deep and staged deep renovation of residential and commercial buildings with a view to improving the energy performance of the building stock, as required by Directive 2012/27/EU;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that cohesion policy will play a key role in implementing the measures necessary to achieve the Union's target of saving 20 % of primary energy consumption by 2020, and in paving the way for further energy efficiency improvements beyond that date;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Points out that by 31 December 2020 all new buildings must be nearly-zero energy buildings and two years before this new publicly owned and occupied buildings must be nearly-zero energy buildings; accordingly urges the Member States to step up the formulation of national programmes for increasing the number of nearly-zero energy buildings and introduce provisions for the definition of nearly-zero energy buildings, reflecting the situation at national, regional or local level in this respect;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses the importance of cohesion policy, and of the financial resources allocated to it, for the full development of smart grids and intelligent networks which result in more efficient energy systems across the regions, reducing energy consumption and energy loss;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to increase substantially under the 2014-2020 financial planning period the structural fund appropriations that may be used by the Member States for measures to increase energy efficiency in buildings, especially residences;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase the minimum share of funding for energy efficiency measures when negotiating future cohesion policy.
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls on Member States to facilitate the establishment of financing facilities for energy efficiency improvement measures to maximise the benefits of multiple streams of financing, as required by Directive 2012/27/EU; calls on the Commission to assist Member States in setting up financing facilities and to facilitate the exchange of best practice between the competent national or regional authorities or bodies; stresses the importance of such EU programmes as the ELENA facility in giving technical assistance to regional and local authorities to make best use of the cohesion funds;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Urges the Member States to launch information campaigns regarding the benefits in terms of comfort and lower utility bills accruing from increased energy efficiency in residences; points out at the same time that it is with regard to buildings rather than individual units (e.g. apartments) that measures to increase energy efficiency are the most efficient;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned about the
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned about the recent findings of the Court of Auditors, which indicate that cohesion policy investments in energy efficiency have not been cost-effective due to the incorrect implementation and use of funds ring fenced for this purpose;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that the primary objective of cohesion policy remains the reduction of the economic
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that the primary objective of cohesion policy remains the reduction of the economic and social disparities between regions and considers that energy efficiency policies should not interfere with this objective; stresses that some of the EU's poorest regions may have different priorities and require investment in other areas first; underlines that the strength of cohesion policy lies in its flexibility and the decentralised administration of funds at local level;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Notes that the primary objective of cohesion policy remains the reduction of the economic and social disparities between regions and considers that energy efficiency policies
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Points out that investment in energy efficiency has the potential to contribute to economic growth, employment, innovation and a reduction in energy poverty in households, and can therefore make a positive contribution to economic, social and territorial cohesion; emphasises that the allocation of funds must be based on principles of proportionality, cost- effectiveness and economic effectiveness and that it must not increase administrative burdens;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Points out that investment in energy efficiency has the potential to contribute to economic growth, employment- particularly at local and regional level, innovation and a reduction in energy poverty in households, and can therefore make a positive contribution to economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Points out that investment in energy efficiency
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Emphasises that bureaucracy and lack of procedural clarity have made access to the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund difficult and discouraged those actors most in need of such funding from applying; supports, therefore, the simplification of rules and procedures, the removal of red tape, and increased flexibility in allocating these funds at both EU and national level; believes that simplification will contribute to the efficient allocation of funds, higher absorption rates, fewer errors and reduced payment periods and allow the poorest Member States and regions to take full advantage of the financial instruments intended to reduce regional and inter-state disparities; considers that a balance needs to be struck between simplification and the stability of rules and procedures;
source: PE-510.482
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