45 Amendments of Dan NICA related to 2020/0006(COD)
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy constitutes one of the most important policy objectives for the Union and requires substantial additional allocation from the Union Budget. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 has had a profound impact on the European and global economies and it is necessary to increase the investments planned to achieve the climate neutrality objectives. While fighting climate change and environmental degradation will benefit all in the long term and provides opportunities and challenges for all in the medium to long term, not all regions and Member States start their transition from the same point or, have the same capacity to respond. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic impact for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, peat and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries. Such a situation not only creates the risk of a variable speed transition in the Union as regards climate action, but also of growing disparities between regions, detrimental to the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion. Such misbalance should be reflected in fair allocation of resources to affected Member states and regions requiring adequate financial support to ensure real just transition and avoid negative socio-economic impacts on industries and workers. JTF should address the most vulnerable regions and workers affected by the socio-economic transition and prevent deepening of energy poverty.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy constitutes one of the most important policy objectives for the Union. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. While fighting climate change and environmental degradation will benefit all in the long term and provides opportunities and challenges for all in the medium term, not all regions and Member States start their transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic impact for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, peat and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries. Such a situation not only creates the risk of a variable speed transition in the Union as regards climate action and negative demographic changes, but also of growing disparities between regions, detrimental to the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The green recovery should play an important role in mitigating the negative impacts of the COVID-19 crisis by creating opportunities for affected regions, industries, SMEs, and can therefore play a crucial role as post-crisis recovery plans.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4b) Just Transition Fund should tackle energy poverty as an issue of social justice, and should compensate incomes of most vulnerable groups in countries that do not have adequate financial reserves. In defining these measures, an active participations of trade unions, civil society organizations and relevant stakeholders complementing national and regional governments is essential.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) In view of the importance of implementing the "Clean Energy for all European package" which plays a key role in the European Union's transition towards a climate neutral economy and in completing the Energy Union, JTF will play an important role in the reconversion of former mine sites to renewable energy generation. This can reduce decommissioning costs, contribute to energy security and provide economic value and jobs to post-mining communities. The development of such projects benefits from the existence of infra-structure and extensive land availability; solutions need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis to ensure suitability to the local conditions. Close cooperation between companies, regulators, investors, land-use planners and local communities is essential to identify the most sustainable uses and maximize social-economic development.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate actions. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25% of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ willmay contribute fully to the achievement of this target according to Members States necessity.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy. The transfer mechanism should be optional and not mandatory in order to allow Member States to assess the best way to allocate resources.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) The establishment of the JTF should not lead to cuts to, or transfers from cohesion policy effectively reducing the fund devoted to other cohesion policy program.
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a continual transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line withrespect of the achievement of the EU 2030 climate objectives, as set up in the article 2of the European climate law, and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy and the creation of sustainable jobs. __________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing sustainable and quality employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy. __________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To protect citizens who are most vulnerable to the climate transition, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers, with the aim of helping them to provide necessary qualifications and adapt to new employment opportunities, as well as providingor adequately support them with providing alternatives such as job- search assistance to jobseekers and their active inclusion into the labour marke, income support to ensure subsequent inclusion and re-inclusion to the labour market avoiding both short and long-term unemployment directly linked to the transition. These actions should also take the gender dimension in due account.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) Effective implementation of JTF and JTM depends not only on the JTF regulation as such but also on the state aid regime that limits the aid intensity in regions. General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) must foresee higher aid intensity and other possible measures to allow public investments in Just Transition regions.
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the JTF should provide support to productive investment in SMEs. Productive investment should be understood as investment in fixed capital or immaterial assets of enterprises in view of producing goods and services thereby contributing to gross-capital formation and sustainable and quality employment. For enterprises other than SMEs, productive investments should only be supported if they are necessary for mitigating job losses resulting from the transition, by creating or protecting a significant number of jobs and they do not lead to or result from relocation. Investments in existing industrial facilities, including those covered by the Union Emissions Trading System, should be allowed if they contribute to the transition to a climate- neutral economy by 2050 and go substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 and if they result in the protection of a significant number of jobs. Any such investment should be justified accordingly in the relevant territorial just transition plan. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market and cohesion policy, support to undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU and, in particular, support to productive investments by enterprises other than SMEs should be limited to enterprises located in areas designated as assisted areas for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) TFEU. __________________ 14Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) The planned revision of State Aid rules should aim at reinforcing and simplifying the investment capacity in sustainable solutions and concrete tools for national, regional and local authorities whose role will be instrumental in an effective and innovative implementation of the Just Transition Fund;
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possible to prepare a self- standing JTF programme or to programme JTF resources in one or more dedicated priorities within a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’), the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’) or the Cohesion Fund with additional resources. In accordance with Article 21a of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], JTF resources should be reinforced with complementary funding from the ERDF and the ESF+, which should be given additional resources for this purpose. The respective amounts transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+ should be on voluntary basis and consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans.
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a National climate-neutral economy. In that regard, Member States supported by the Commission should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commissionregional governments, trade unions, civil society organizations and relevant stakeholders, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans and enhancing their climate ambition as well as the European Semester Country Report. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors including energy-intensive industries and carbon-dependent regions.
Amendment 180 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The territorial just transition plans should identify the territories most negatively affected, where JTF support should be concentrated and describe specific actions to be undertaken to reach a climate-neutral economy, notably as regards the conversion or closure of facilities involving fossil fuel production or other greenhouse gas intensive activities whilst maintaining and expanding employment opportunities in the affected territories in order to avoid social exclusion. Those territories should be precisely defined and correspond to NUTS level 3 regions or should be parts thereof. The plans should detail the challenges and needs of those territories and identify the type of operations needed in a manner that ensures the coherent development of climate-resilient economic activities that are also consistent with the transition to climate-neutrality and the objectives of the Green Deal. Only investments in accordance with the transition plans should receive financial support from the JTF. The territorial just transition plans should be part of the programmes (supported by the ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund or the JTF, as the case may be) which are approved by the Commission.
Amendment 184 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The JTF should ensure the active participation of relevant public authorities, economic and social partners, including trade unions and other relevant civil society stakeholders in the preparation and implementation of the territorial just transition plans;
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall support the Investment for jobs and growth goal in all Member States and regions facing subsequent decarbonisation challenge and requiring adequate financial support to ensure real just transition and avoiding negative socio-economic impacts on industries, SMEs, including start-ups, as well as workers who lose their jobs as consequence of the transition.
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 7.519 billion in 2018 prices, which(“principal amount”), and shall not be transferred from the allocations of the Funds covered by Regulation (EU) …/… [new CPR]. The principal amount may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act.
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall only support activities that are directly linked to its specific objective as set out in Article 2 and which contribute to the implementation of thsustainable territorial just transition plans established in accordance with Article 7.
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
In accordance with paragraph 1, the JTF shall exclusively support the following activities:
Amendment 247 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) productive investments in SMEs, including start-ups, leading to creation of sustainable and quality new jobs related to green economy, economic diversification and reconversion;
Amendment 252 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) productive and sustainable investments in SMEs, including start-ups, leading to economic diversification and reconversion;
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investments in the creation of new firms, and in the expansions of existing ones, with a particular emphasis on SMEs and start-ups in order to contribute to economic diversification and reconversion, including through business incubators and consulting services;
Amendment 265 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction including investments in sustainable mobility and decarbonisation of the transport sector, energy efficiency and/or renewable energy; emphasising investment in renewables, smart electricity solutions, together with related infrastructure and in circular economy and environmental remediation.
Amendment 272 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, storage, energy efficiency and renewable energy, including alternative fuels infrastructure;
Amendment 287 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) targeted energy efficiency measures to address energy poverty;
Amendment 305 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) investments in activities related to medical products, equipment and devices;
Amendment 309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing project, related to revitalization, decontamination, access and renovation of former coal and other mines and power station as well as brownfield sites and facilities, land restoration and repurposing projects, including afforestation of post coal mine sites;
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in green infrastructure, regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing projects;
Amendment 330 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
(h) upskilling and reskilling of workers and jobseekers towards the green economy sector;
Amendment 333 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h a (new)
(ha) developing social infrastructure needed to support the access to labour market, social inclusion and active health ageing;
Amendment 334 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point i
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point i
(i) job-search assistance to jobseekers; and income support to workers who lost their job as consequence of the transition.
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point j
(j) active inclusion of jobseekers and early retirement support;;
Amendment 366 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of fossil fuels with the exception of investments aimed at switching from coal-fired power plants to small flexible gas power plants to ensure the transition to climate neutrality;
Amendment 381 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
By way of derogation from Article 5 (d) and following the approval by the Commission, the investments related to production, processing, distribution, storage or combustion of natural gas shall be supported by JTF under the following cumulative conditions: - The investments are retrofitting and/or replacing existing more carbon-intensive infrastructure; - The supported infrastructure is synergistic with renewable and other carbon-neutral energy production capacity. The derogation shall only be used and granted for the purposes of the transition period until 2050.
Amendment 393 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The JTF priority or priorities shall comprise the JTF resources consisting of all or part of the JTF allocation for the Member States and on a voluntary basis the resources transferred in accordance with Article [21a] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. The total of the ERDF and ESF+ resources transferred to the JTF priority shall be at least equal to one and a half times the amount of support from the JTF to that priority but shall not exceed three times that amount.
Amendment 397 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, together with the relevant authorities of the territories concerned, one or more territorial just transition plans covering one or more affected territories corresponding to level 3 of the common classification of territorial units for statistics (‘NUTS level 3 regions’) as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/201417 or parts thereof, in accordance with the template set out in Annex II. Those territories shall be those most negatively directly and indirectly affected based on the economic and social impacts resulting from the transition, in the short and long term, in particular with regard to expected job losses in fossil fuel production and use and the transformation needs of the production processes of industrial facilities with the highest greenhouse gas intensity and conversion to alternative industries in sectors whose finished industrial products are ultimately incompatible with the target of carbon neutrality. __________________ 17 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 398 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, together with the relevant authorities of the territories concerned on both national and regional level, one or more territorial just transition plans covering one or more affected territories corresponding to level 3 of the common classification of territorial units for statistics (‘NUTS level 3 regions’) as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/201417 or parts thereof, in accordance with the template set out in Annex II. Those territories shall be those most negatively affected based on the economic and social impacts resulting from the transition, in particular with regard to expected job losses in fossil fuel production and use and the transformation needs of the production processes of industrial facilities with the highest greenhouse gas intensity. Relevant authorities and stakeholders should be actively involved in all phases of the process: preparatory, selection and implementation. __________________ 17 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 418 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) an assessment of the transition challenges faced by the most negatively affected territories, including the social, economic, and environmental impact of the transition to a climate-neutral economy, identifying the potential number of affected jobs and job losses, number of enterprises disrupted and expected revenue losses, the development needs and objectives, to be reached by 2030 linked to the transformation or closure of greenhouse gas-intensive activities or activities whose finished industrial products are ultimately incompatible with the target of carbon neutrality in those territories;
Amendment 426 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) a description of the expected contribution of the JTF support to addressing the social, economic energy security, and environmental impacts of the transition to a climate- neutral economy; and preventing deepening of energy poverty
Amendment 432 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) a description of the governance mechanisms consisting of the partnership arrangements, the monitoring and evaluation measures planned and the responsible bodies both on national and regional level;
Amendment 445 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point j
(j) synergies and complementarities with other Union programmes, funds and pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism to address identified development needs.
Amendment 448 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. The preparation and implementation of territorial just transition plans shall involve the relevant partners in accordance with Article [6] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. as well as representatives of industry, energy sector, social partners, national and regional authorities and relevant stakeholders