Activities of Soledad CABEZÓN RUIZ related to 2015/2108(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Towards a European Energy Union - Making Europe's electricity grid fit for 2020 (debate) ES
Towards a European Energy Union - Making Europe's electricity grid fit for 2020 (debate) ES
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on achieving the 10 % electricity interconnection target – Making Europe’s electricity grid fit for 2020 PDF (184 KB) DOC (113 KB)
Amendments (31)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 5 February 2014 on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
- having regard to the Madrid Declaration on the Energy Interconnections Links Summit between Spain, France, Portugal, the European Commission and the EIB of 4 March 2015,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
- whereas new interconnections will also require additional reinforcements of the existing grid in order to fully use their capacity;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that a fully integrated EU electricity market would facilitate the electricity trading and balancing services, and would lower the volatility of electricity prices to the benefit of citizens and the competitiveness of Europe's industry and business in a global economy, as; notes that it is estimated that EUR 12-40 billion could be saved annually by 2030 by European consumers provided that the 15% interconnection target is met; recalls the right of EU consumers to equally benefit from a single energy market;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that increased interconnections are key to the EU's aim to be a world leader in renewable energies, to build on the existing 1.2 million jobs which are currently dependent on renewable energy in the EU; underlines that more interconnections will help reduce Europe's over-reliance on fossil fuel imports, thus increasing energy security, reducing emissions and improving Europe's balance of payments;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Believes that increasing energy interconnections and abolishing energy islands must be a major political priority of the Energy Union, with a specific focus on those Member States which have still not met the 10% interconnection target;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the Commission communication and strategy as a positive step towards achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target and moving towards the European Council's 2030 15% target;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
The 10 % electricity interconnection target by 2020
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises the 10 % target – to be achieved by 2020 – as a valuable target and a step in the right direction; considers, however, that it does not always reflect the market situation and has not been established on the basis of scientific evidence; recalls that the 10 % target was first set in 2002 on the basis of theDeplores the fact that the 10 % target, originally set at the 2002 Barcelona European Council summit, has not yet been met; considers that in order to build the sufficient political will, determination and momentum, and ensure that all available means at the Union's disposal are fully deployed, the 10% target of installed electricity generaproduction capacity that existed at that time; acknowledges that, although the 10 % target is important, it describes neither the quantity of electricity flowing between countries nor the quality, such as the availability of the existing interconnection infrastructure or of the existing national infrastructure between the interconnectors; believes, therefore, that a one-size-fits-all interconnection target based on installed electricity generation capacity is not on its own appropriate for all Member Statesfor all Member States should be made binding for 2020 and a higher target should be set for 2030; recalls the existing European Parliament plenary position, as adopted in resolution of 5 February 2014 on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies, which called on the Commission to establish binding targets for minimum cross-border transmission capacity;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recognises that new interconnectors and targets by themselves will not be enough to comply with the internal market objective and should go hand in hand with measures to ensure internal reinforcements of infrastructures on both sides of the interconnected systems;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
- Whereas reaching at least the 10% interconnection target by 2020 is essential to overcome electricity islands, to secure affordable energy supply for all consumers and to integrate a greater share of electricity generation based on renewable energy sources;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the frequently congested transmission networks might be linked to cross-border lines but might also be due to weak internal grids; insists that a holistic approach should be taken when assessing the need for, and the priority of, reinforcement / extension, taking into account both cross-border and national connections, in particular the real use of the existing interconnection lines and the availability of existing national infrastructure;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrequests the lack of a transparentat in the review of Regulation No 347/2013 the Commission evaluates whether the decision-making process leading to the establishment of the projects of common interest (PCI) list; regrets further the predominant role of ENTSO-E, transmission system operators (TSOs) and project promoters in the development of is sufficiently transparent and whether the procedure could be improved for establishing a harmonised cost-benefit analysis methodology, in preparing the ten- year network development plans and the network codes, and in evaluating the costs and benefits of each project; recalls the need to provide complete assessments including social and environmental impacts; insists that once fully transparent and technically rigorous cost-benefit evaluation supports the expansion of any interconnection, priority should be granted to the most efficient projects; calls on the Commission, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and national regulators to play a more proactive role in order to develop a more neutral, transparent and democratic consultative process, including the effective participation of Parliament and giving voting status to civil society representativeoptimisation of the overall process by calling on the expertise available in wider groups of stakeholders; calls on the Commission to assess the situations in which the use of best available technology (BAT) could be established as a precondition for granting promoted for EU -funds toed projects;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Invites the Commission to report annually to the European Parliament on the implementation of PCIs and on progress to reach the 10% target, as part of the annual stocktaking foreseen in the Strategic Framework for the Energy Union;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises that public awareness and support is essential to ensure fast implementation of interconnector projects; acknowledges that democratictransparent processes and environmental standards must not be undermined when building new power lines; calls on the project promoters to use BAT for new interconnectors in order to reduce conflicts between project investments in the grids and environmental impact;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to launch a EU campaign promoting the benefits and necessity of building new and upgrading existing energy infrastructures in order to achieve our energy and climate objectives;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes the understaffing and lack of resources of ACER; asks the EU budgetary authority to provide the agency with the necessary resources, in particular sufficient own staff, in order to allow the agency to fulfil the tasks assigned to it by legislation; calls for ACER's role to be strengthened, in particular in with regards to reinforcing co-ordination of NRAs, arbitrating between NRAs and coordinating cross-border regulation to ENTSO-Eory matters;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes the understaffing and/or lack of independence of a number of national energyof some national energy regulators or the merging of regulatory bodies with the competition authority, which might compromise the principle of specialisation, essential for sectoral regulatorsion; calls on the Commission to carry out an independent audit by the end of 2016 at the latest on the resources available to, and the degree of independence achieved so far by, all national energy regulators, including the identification of recommendations on how to improve the situation;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that there is still a lack of transparency with regard to the calculation of cross-border capacities made available to the market and the frequency, magnitude and reasons of curtailment on interconnectors; doubts, in this context, that most of the significant curtailments are fully addressed; asks the Commission to provide ACER with the adequate competences and powers to gather the necessary information on each individual cross-border transmission capacity so as to allow ACER to fulfil its monitoring responsibilities effectively and to exercise the role of European Regulator necessary for the effective completion of the Internal Energy Market;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Notes the Commission estimate that EUR 35 billion of financing is necessary to reach the 10% target by 2020 across all Member States and insists all available means must be deployed to this effect; considers that the Energy Infrastructure Guidelines, Connecting Europe Facility, structural funds and EFSI will be crucial in providing the necessary support and financing;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Supports the Commission's recommendation that the CEF be concentrated on a few key projects; consiRecalls that the Connecting Europe Facility regulation includes as a major aim the need to interconnect Member States' networks and also includers that adequate EU financing should also be made available beyond 2020 toe aim of making the majority of financial assistance available for electricity projects; supports the implementation of non-commercial electricity connection projects necessary to ensure the functioning of the internal energy market; stresses the importance of the EIB in supporting investors in commercially viable electricity infrastructure projects; notes the establishment of the European Fund for Strategic Investments and encouraCommission's commitment to give special priority to projects which will significantly increase the current interconnection capacity where it is well below the established 10% objective, recalls that a specific priority for the EFSI is to develop interconnections and suggests the Commission to ensure that the fund effectively attracts investments in electricity interconnection projectsat an equivalent commitment is made for EFSI and, in any case, urges priority selection of interconnection projects by the EIB and the EFSI Investment Committee;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 19 – subparagraph 1 (new)
19a. Mediterranean Region Acknowledges that, due to demographic and GDP growth, expected energy demand in the South and East Mediterranean will double by 2022, with 20% of new generation capacity coming from RES; notes that, given the overcapacity in most European countries, the optimization of energy flows requires market integration through the development of new infrastructures; stresses the importance of new electricity interconnections between European and North African markets, as this would be beneficial from a strategic as well as economic point of view, contributing to security of supply and to the development of integrated RES systems between Europe and North Africa.
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. StressWelcomes the importance of more interconnection between Spain and France to support the renewables in the region, whilst minimising problems and delays by using the BAT in order to preserve the environment and still increase interconnectivity; notes the Madrid Declaration, signed on 4 March 2015,"Madrid Declaration", signed on 4 March 2015 and the agreement on the "Common strategy paper for the development of the interconnection of the Iberian Peninsula with the internal electricity market and beyond between the TSOs of France, Spain and Portugal as an important step towards increasing the region's interconnectivity;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Acknowledges that the current interconnection capacity between the Iberian Peninsula and mainland Europe (2800MW) is too low to enable Spain and Portugal to fully participate in the internal electricity market as pointed out in ACER´s Opinion on the draft ENTSO- E Ten Year Network Development Plan 1 a ; __________________ 1aOpinion of the Agency for the cooperation of Energy Regulators nº01/2015, of 29 January 2015 on the ENTSO-E Draft Ten-Year Network Development Plan 2014, p.32.
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Underlines the need to overcome the current situation of energy island experienced by the Iberian Peninsula in order to support an ambitious level of deployment of renewables in the region; recognises that mainland Europe would benefit from the electricity based on RES at competitive prices available in the Iberian market;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Recognises that the projects currently included both in the ENTSO-E TYNDP 2014 and in the European Commission´s 2015 PCI list are not enough to reach the European interconnection target between the Iberian Peninsula and mainland Europe; urges the TEN-E Regional Group and the Commission to include the projects agreed upon under the Madrid Declaration in the upcoming PCI 2015 list in order to significantly increase the capacity between Spain and France;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Stresses that in order to develop the infrastructures needed to reach the 10% interconnection target between the Iberian Peninsula and mainland Europe, these infrastructures should be prioritised and benefit from the full support available at the European level, notably through the Connecting Europe Facility, the Structural Funds and the European Fund for Strategic Investment;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 e (new)
Paragraph 21 e (new)
21e. Welcomes the initiative of the Commission to carry out a study of the benefits of the interconnection of the Iberian Peninsula with France, the United Kingdom, Italy and countries of the South Bank of the Mediterranean;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 12
Subheading 12
Beyond 20230
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that Europe's energy system has evolved since 2002, when the 10 % electricity interconnection target was oriAsks the Commission to assess the setting of regionally set – in particular, renewable energy sources have been developed across the continent; questions in this context a 15 % target based on installed capacity for 2030; asks the Commission, therefore, to assess the setting of regional, complementary targets and to find better, complementary targets once the electricity interconnection target of at least 15% by 2030 has been achieved by all Member States and to explore qualitative and quantitative benchmarks, such as peak flows and bottlenecks, that highlight how much interconnection is needed;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the need to derive aensure this future electricity interconnection target fromis fully consistent with the EU's long-term climate goals as well as from a sustainable energy system that the EU is looking for; notes in this context that the degree of interconnection required will depend in particular on whether: a) the EU is serious in applyingnd envisaged energy transition; notes that the exact level of interconnection necessary will be influenced by a whole range of factors such as the need to reduce imported fuels, the benefits arising from better-integrated, more liquid markets and trading hubs, application of the ‘'energy efficiency first' principle and more demand-side response measures, b), promotion of decentralised renewables- based electricity and its correlated smart grids are further developed, c) energy storage technologies – at household or municipality levels – are developed, d) grids are optimised and use the best available technologies, e) people are given a higher role as prosumers in the energy system, and f) a clear incentive for investments in the grids is created;, smart grids and energy storage technologies.