29 Amendments of István UJHELYI related to 2021/0205(COD)
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Over the past decades, air transport has played a crucial role in the Union's economy and in the everyday lives of Union citizens, as one of the best performing and most dynamic sectors of the Union economy. It has been a strong driver for economic growth, jobs, trade and tourism, as well as for connectivity and mobility for businesses and citizens alike, particularly within the Union aviation internal market. Growth in air transport services has significantly contributed to improving connectivity and cohesion within the Union, including its regions, and with third countries, and has been a significant enabler of the Union economy.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) From 2020, air transport has been one of the hardest hit sector by the COVID-19 crisis. With the perspective of an end to the pandemic in sight, it is expected that air traffic will gradually resume in the coming years and recover to its pre-crisis levels. At the same time, emissions from the sector have been increasing since 1990 and the trend of increasing emissions could return as we overcome the pandemic. Therefore, it is necessaryimperative to prepare for the future and make the necessary adjustments ensuring a well-functioning air transport market that contributes to achieving the Union’s climate goals, with high levels of connectivity, safety and security.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The air transport market is subject to strong competition between economic actors across the Union, for which a level playing field is indispensable. The stability and prosperity of the air transport market and its economic actors relies on a clear and harmonised policy framework where aircraft operators, airports and other aviation actors can operate on the basis of equal opportunities. It is essential to ensure air connectivity within the Union by stakeholders from the Union. This to avoid dependence on third country stakeholders and safeguard air transport business and jobs, but also to retain an air transport and infrastructure security in line with the Union security. Where market distortions occur, they risk putting aircraft operators or airports at a disadvantage with internal or external competitors. In turn, this can result in a loss of competitiveness of the air transport industry, job opportunities for workers, and a loss of air connectivity for citizens and businesses.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) A key objective of the common transport policy is sustainable development. This requires an integrated approach aimed at ensuring both the effective functioning of Union transport systems, compliance with labour and social regulations, and protection of the environment. Sustainable development of air transport requires the introduction of measures aimed at reducing the carbon emissions from aircraft flying from Union airports. Such measures should contribute to meeting the Union’s climate objectives by 2030 and 2050.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Communication on a Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy10 adopted by the Commission in December 2020 sets a course of action for the EU transport system to achieve its green and digital transformation and become more resilient. The decarbonisation of the air transport sector is a necessary and challenging process, especially in the short term. Technological advancements, pursued in European and national research and innovation aviation programmes have contributed to important emission reductions in the past decades. However, the global growth of air traffic has outpaced the sector’s emissions reductions. Whereas new technologies, such as electric- or hydrogen powered aircrafts, are expected to help reducing short-haul aviation’s reliance on fossil energy in the next decades, sustainable aviation fuels offer the only solution for significant decarbonisation of all flight ranges, already in the short term. However, this potential is currently largely untapped. _________________ 10 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future (COM/2020/789 final), 9.12.2020.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Sustainable aviation fuels are liquid, drop-in fuels, fully fungible with conventional aviation fuel and compatible with existing aircraft engines. Several production pathways of sustainable aviation fuels have been certified at global level for use in civil or military aviation. Sustainable aviation fuels are technologically ready to play an important role in reducing emissions from air transport already in the very short term. They are expected to account for a major part of the aviation fuel mix in the medium and long term. Further, with the support of appropriate international fuel standards, sustainable aviation fuels might contribute to lowering the aromatic content of the final fuel used by an operator, thus helping to reduce other non-CO2 emissions. Other alternatives to power aircraft, such as electricity or liquid hydrogen are promising technologies that are expected to progressively contribute to the decarbonisation of air transport, beginning with short-haul flights.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The present Regulation should apply to aircraft engaged in civil aviation, carrying out commercial air transport flights. It should not apply to aircraft such as military aircraft and aircraft engaged in operations for humanitarian, search, rescue, disaster relief or medical purposes, as well as customs, police and fire-fighting operations. Indeed, flights operated in such circumstances are of exceptional nature and as such cannot always be planned in the same way as regular flights. Due to the nature of their operations, they may not always be in a position to fulfil obligations under this Regulation, as it may represent unnecessary burden. In order to cater for a level playing field across the EU aviation single market, this regulation should cover the largest possible share of commercial air traffic operated from airports located on EU territory. At the same time, in order to safeguard air connectivity for the benefits of EU citizens, businesses and regions, it is important to avoid imposing undue burden on air transport operations at small airports. A threshold of yearly passenger air traffic and freight traffic should be defined, below which airports would not be covered by this Regulation; however, tThe scope of the Regulation should be to cover at least 95% of total traffic departing from airports in the Union. For the same reasons, a threshold should be defined to exempt aircraft operators accountable for a very low number of departures from airports located on EU territoryll airports in the Union in the long term.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels with a high potential for sustainability, commercial maturity and a high potential for innovation and growth to meet future needs should be promoted. This should support creating innovative and competitive fuels markets and ensure sufficient supply of sustainable aviation fuels for aviation in short and long term to contribute to Union transport decarbonisation ambitions, while strengthening Union’s efforts towards a high level of environmental protection. For this purpose, all sustainable aviation fuels produced from feedstock listed in Parts A and B of Annex IX of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, as well as synthetic aviation fuels should be eligible. In particular, sustainable aviation fuels produced from feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 are essential, as currently the most commercially mature technology to decarbonise air transport already in the short term, meaning drop-in aviation fuels that are either biofuels as defined in Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, with the exception of high ILUC biofuels as defined in Article 26(2) of the same Directive, or synthetic aviation fuels, and which comply with the sustainability and greenhouse gasemissions criteria laid down in Article 29 and 25(2) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and are verified in accordance with Article 30 of that Directive, should be eligible and essential for the shift of making the aviation sector more sustainable as soon as possible.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) With the introduction and ramp-up of sustainable aviation fuels at Union airports, practices of fuel tankering may be exacerbated as a consequence of aviation fuel costs increases. Tankering practices are unstainable and should be avoided as they undermine the Union’s efforts to reduce environmental impacts from transport. Those would be contrary to the aviation decarbonisation objectives as increased aircraft weight would increase fuel consumption and related emissions on a given flight. Tankering practices also put at risk the level playing field in the Union between aircraft operators, and also between airports. This Regulation should therefore require aircraft operators to refuel prior to departure from a given Union airport. The amount of fuel uplifted prior to departures from a given Union airport should be commensurate with the amount of fuel necessary to operate the flights departing from that airport, taking into account the necessary compliance with fuel safety rules. The requirement ensures that equal conditions for operations in the Union applying equally to Union and foreign operators, while ensuring high level of environmental protection. As the Regulation does not define a maximum share of sustainable aviation fuels in all aviation fuels, Member States, airlines and fuel suppliers may pursue more ambitious environmental policies with higher sustainable aviation fuels uptake and supply in their overall network of operations, while avoiding fuel tankering.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Airports covered by this Regulation should ensure that all the necessary infrastructure is provided stakeholders, such as airport managing bodies and/or other parties involved in fuel supply, covered by this Regulation should facilitate for delivery, storage and refuelling of sustainable aviation fuel, so as not to constitute an obstacle with respect to the uptake of such sustainable aviation fuel. If necessary, the Agency should be able to require a Union airport to provide information on the infrastructure available allowing for seamless distribution and refuelling of aircraft operators with sustainable aviation fuels. The role of the Agency should allow airports and airlines to have a common focal point, in the event where technical clarification is necessary on the availability of fuel infrastructure.
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32 a (new)
Recital 32 a (new)
(32 a) Aircraft operators and fuel suppliers under this Regulation should fulfil their due diligence obligations and identify, address and mitigate human rights and environmental impacts. These rules should apply to all companies operating in the EU internal market and ensure sanctions for violations and legal support for affected parties in third countries.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on sustainable aviation. This concerns the uptake and supply of sustainable aviation fuels. , duties for aircraft operators and Union airports as well as providing a regulatory framework.
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
— ‘Union airport’ means an airport as defined in Article 2(21) of Directive 2009/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council13 , where passenger traffic was higher than 1 million passengers or where the freight traffic was higher than 100000 tons in the reporting period, andich is not situated in an outermost region, as listed in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; _________________ 13 Directive 2009/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on airport charges
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Amendment 224 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 5
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 5
— ‘sustainable aviation fuels’ (‘SAF’) means drop-in aviation fuels that are either synthetic aviation fuels, advanced biofuels as defined in Article 2, second paragraph, point 34 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, or biofuels produced from the feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX to that Directive,with the exception of high ILUC biofuels as defined in Article 26(2) of the same Directive, or synthetic aviation fuels, and which comply with the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions criteria laid down in Article 29(2) to (7) of that Directive and 25(2) of Directive (EU)2018/2001 and are cvertified in accordance with Article 30 of thisat Directive;
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Compulsory refuelling of sustainable aviation fuel shall also be promoted at airports outside the EU. To this end, future agreements as well as amendments to existing agreements must include a reference to the obligation to refuel with alternative aviation fuels in order to ensure fair competition. The Commission shall develop a strategy for this purpose and submit a report by 1 January 2025 at the latest.
Amendment 298 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – title
Article 6 – title
6 Obligations of Union airports to provide the infrastructure and emission- free operation
Amendment 306 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that airport managing bodies and other parties involved in fuel supply at Union airports shall take necessary measures to facilitate the access of aircraft operators to aviation fuels containing shares of sustainable aviation fuels in accordance with Annex I and, shall provide the infrastructure necessary for the delivery, storage and uplifting of such fuels.
Amendment 321 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Where aircraft operators report difficulties to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (‘the Agency’) in accessing aviation fuels containing sustainable aviation fuels at a given Union airport for lack of adequate airport infrastructure, the Agency may request the Union airportMember State to provide the information necessary to prove compliance with paragraph 1. The Union airportMember State concerned shall provide the information without undue delay.
Amendment 329 #
The Agency shall assess the information received and inform the Commission if such information allows to conclude that the Union airportMember State does not fulfil its obligations. Union airportMember States shall take the necessary measures to identify and address the lack of adequate airport infrastructure in 5 years after the entry into force of the Regulation or after the year when they exceed one of the thresholds in Article 3(a).
Amendment 330 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Union airports shall ensure that all their activities operate without fossil fuels by 1 January 2035 at the latest. This includes the energy supply of all buildings and facilities at the airport, services for stationary aircraft and by off-road vehicles on the airport apron as well as other motorised vehicles for the transport of people and goods.
Amendment 354 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Aircraft operators under this Regulation shall fulfil their due diligence obligations, in particular by ensuring labour, social and environmental standards along the global value chains. In their annual reports to the Agency, aircraft operators shall provide information on the progress made and report violations.
Amendment 367 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Fuel suppliers shall fulfil their due diligence obligations by ensuring, in particular, labour, social and environmental standards along all global value chains. In their annual reports to the Agency, they shall provide information on the progress made and report violations;
Amendment 411 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(f a) The assessment of the economic, social and environmental impacts generated by the production of sustainable aviation fuel on other sectors of society and the economy.
Amendment 414 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
(f b) comparison of the CO2 reduction potential of sustainable aviation fuels with other measures in the aviation industry.
Amendment 415 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The information according to a) to h) will be included by the Commission in its reporting obligation in accordance with Article 14 of this Regulation.
Amendment 425 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
By 1 January 20287 and every fivthree years thereafter, the Commission services shall present a report to the European Parliament and the Council, on the evolution of the aviation fuels market and its impact on the aviation internal market of the Union, including regarding the possible extension of the scope of this Regulation to other energy sources, and other types of synthetic fuels defined under the Renewable Energy Directive, the possible revision of the minimum shares in Article 4 and Annex I, and the level of administrative fines. The report shall include informationan assessment, based on available information, of the impact of this Regulation on the functioning of the internal market in aviation and the international level playing field with regards to the European tourism sector, air carriers, European airports and airport hubs and, where available, information on development of a potential policy framework for uptake of sustainable aviation fuels at ICAO level. The report shall also inform on technological advancements in the area of research and innovation in the aviation industry which are relevant to sustainable aviation fuels, including with regards to the reduction of non-CO2 emissions. The report may consider if this Regulation should be amended and, options for amendments,shall be accompanied by legislative proposals to amend this Regulation where appropriate, in line with a potential policy framework on sustainable aviation fuels uptake at ICAO level.