35 Amendments of Henna VIRKKUNEN related to 2015/2113(INI)
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the Energy Union reflects multiple calls of the European Parliament to establish a true pan-European Energy Community, based on a strong common energy market, coordination of energy purchasing outside of the EU and common European funding of research and innovation in the area of new sustainable energy technologies;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the future vision of the Energy Union must be one in which Member States recognise that they depend on each other to deliver secure, competitive and sustainable energy to their citizens, based on true solidarity and trust, and in which the Energyuropean Union speaks with one voice in global affairs;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the Energy Community is an instrument to expand internal energy market to EU's neighbourhood countries, thus contributing to the creation of a pan- European energy space based on common principles and the rule of law;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas 30 million European jobs are at risk owing to the US shale gas boom, as energy-intensive industries move operations to the US, where energy costs are far lower and where regulation of greenhouse gas emissions is less restrictive;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital U a (new)
Recital U a (new)
Ua. whereas the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, notably in buildings, shall be recognized, such as improved energy security through a decreased dependency on imports, increased energy savings, lower energy bills, increased competitiveness, job creation;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Underlines that well-developed and fully integrated infrastructure allowing for enhanced diversification of supplies and cross-border flows is vital for ensuring security of supply both in normal and emergency conditions and for delivering energy from competitive sources to consumers across the European Union and Energy Community;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that it is of upmost importance to the EU to end the isolation of some Member States from the internal energy market, as demonstrated by the gas stress tests carried out by the Commission; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to carry out such tests every two yearsregularly;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that, in the context of the future Energy Union, security of energy supply isand competitiveness are the most pressing issues and that Member States must coordinate and cooperate in this respect with their neighbours when developing their energy policies; calls on the Commission, in this respect, to examine how the current architecture of national preventive and emergency response measures could be streamlined at both regional and EU level;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to support those EU Member States and on the Energy Community Secretariat to support those Energy Community Contracting Parties that wish to negotiate energy contracts on a voluntary basis by introducing a common negotiating mechanism, and stresses that the functioning of such a mechanism must be subject to compliance with the EU internal market acquis and with EU competition and World Trade Organisation rules;
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to prepare draft contract templates and guidelines including an indicative list of abusive clauses in order to create a reference for competent authorities and companies in their contracting activities; furthermore calls on the Commission to publish quarterly assessments of the average import prices;
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to facilitate the effective use of existing EU funding schemes, including the European Fund for Strategic Investments, so as to support investment in the development of Europe's indigenous energy resources, based on a technology-neutral approach, and energy efficiency;
Amendment 493 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission, and in particular DG TRADE, to comaintainue to press for a dedicated the goal of dedicating a separate energy chapter within the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), with a view to removing US export restrictions on both crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and eliminating protectionist measures;
Amendment 497 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that a strengthened Energy Community should be the pivotal arm of the EU's external energy policy and invites the Commission to come forward with concrete proposals based on the report of the High-Level Reflection Group for the reform of the Energy Community;
Amendment 501 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the Energy Community through, inter alia, better implementation and enforcement of EU law, enhancing its institutions and implementing key infrastructure projects, such as cross-border bidirectional interconnectors, in order to ensure better integration with the EU energy market and security of supply mechanisms;
Amendment 513 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Amendment 516 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the future Energy Union must establish a free flow of energy across EU and Energy Community countries as the fifth European freedom alongside free movement of people, goods, capital and services;
Amendment 530 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Points out the importance of a flexible and dynamic internal energy market that ensures competitive and affordable energy prices for consumers that could be achieved through enhanced competition on the market, alleviation of excessive regulatory obligations and by addressing insufficient demand and supply flexibility;
Amendment 647 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Member States and the Commission as well as the Energy Community Contracting Parties and the Energy Community Secretariat to concentrate their efforts on driving projects of common interest (PCIs) and projects of the Energy Community interest (PECIs) forward, with a view to achieving a pan- European ‘super grid' with the capacity to transmit power across EU countriesurope from multiple sources and therefore capable of diverting energy from surplus to deficit areas, thereby allowing the market to instantly respond to interruptions of supply wherever they occur;
Amendment 662 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Stresses the importance of ensuring a sound, stable and predictable regulatory framework which will enable long-term commitments and which is necessary to deliver new investments in energy infrastructure;
Amendment 787 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Commission and the Member states to encourage innovations in the building sector in order to improve the energy efficiency of buildings;
Amendment 791 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Stresses that about half of primary energy in Europe is used for heating; Supports the Commission in the preparation of an ambitious EU Strategy for Heating and Cooling to tap the full potential for energy efficiency and the use of renewables on the heating market;
Amendment 832 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Calls on Member States to reinforce regulatory and public financial support to accelerate the renovation rate of buildings and the improvement of district heating systems;
Amendment 843 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Acknowledges that local authorities of European cities undoubtedly make an important contribution to energy independence by increasing energy- efficiency through renovating buildings, cogeneration, modernising and expanding district heating and cooling systems, increasing the use of cleaner public transport, and encouraging more active travel models and renovating buildings;
Amendment 912 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses, however, that the EU must employ a technology-neutral approach to decarbonising our energy systems, adopting strategies for using and promoting not only renewable energy sources but also other low-emission sources of energy; calls on the Commission, in this respect, to revise its Energy and Environmental State Aid Guidelines in a way which will provide for an equitable treatment of energy production from different energy sourcescarbon sources of energy;
Amendment 934 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Stresses that decarbonisation which is not pursued through a technology-neutral approach could result in a drastic increase in energy costs in some Member States, which would lead to energy poverty, deindustrialisation of the European economy and a subsequent rise in unemployment; stresses that ithe EU therefore needs to be a sovereign decision of each Member State on how to decarbonise its economrequires harmonized EU-wide and at the same time market based and technology neutral policies, which deliver on objectives at the lowest cost to society;
Amendment 937 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Calls on the European Commission to safeguard the competitiveness of the energy intensive industries by taking into account both direct and indirect carbon costs and changing production levels thus ensuring long term planning security for industrial investments.
Amendment 1025 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to undertake common efforts in order to bring down wholesale and retail gas and energy prices by 20 % by 2020energy prices;
Amendment 1037 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Moving towards energy-efficient and decarbonised transport sector
Amendment 1040 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Points out that transport represents over 30% of final energy consumption in Europe and 94% percent of transport relies on oil products; recognizes transports vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Amendment 1041 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Draws attention to the fact that globally agreed rules within the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation are required in order for aviation and maritime CO2 emission targets to be met, which is important for the competitiveness of European industries.
Amendment 1042 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Notes that 70 % of Europeans live in cities and calls for targeted measures from the Member States towards smooth, cost-effective and energy-efficient urban transport; stresses that energy-efficiency can be improved by supporting digitalisation and use of intelligent transport systems and developing innovative transport services.
Amendment 1043 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Calls for comprehensive legislation that stimulates investments in a technology-neutral way in research, production and distribution of renewable fuels and modern engine technology; emphasises the need to reduce emissions by replacing fossil fuels by renewable fuels, electricity or low carbon alternatives; considers that support for the early deployment of liquefied natural gas is needed; recalls that opening up the market to renewable fuels in aviation would help the EU maintain its leading role in renewable energy.
Amendment 1052 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Research and Development, Innovation and Competitiveness
Amendment 1059 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Calls on the Commission to intensify its research efforts regarding the better use of Europe's indigenous resources, both conventional and unconventional, to further develop the new generation of flexible renewable energy technologies, such as geothermal, biomass, solar- thermal electricity, and ocean energy technologies, as well as to improve the flexibility of their electricity production, in particular through the Horizon 2020 programme;
Amendment 1162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the Commission and the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community.