Activities of José BLANCO LÓPEZ related to 2016/2059(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU strategy for liquefied natural gas and gas storage (A8-0278/2016 - András Gyürk) ES
Amendments (61)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 e (new)
Citation 4 e (new)
- having regard to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 15 December 2011 entitled 'Energy Roadmap 2050' (COM(2011)0885),
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 8 March 2011 entitled 'Roadmap for moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050' (COM(2011)0112),
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)
Citation 4 c (new)
- having regard to the Third Energy Package,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 d (new)
Citation 4 d (new)
- having regard to Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 f (new)
Citation 4 f (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2016 entitled 'Towards a European Energy Union',
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the EU has committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Europe has already a significant LNG import infrastructure: the EU currently has 197 bcm of LNG import capacity with a further 77 bcm of LNG import capacity under development;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU, as the second largest LNG importer in the world, should exploit more opportunitiesplay a more proactive role in the international energy diplomacy arena;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure full implementation of Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, within the prescribed time limits, in particular as regards the establishment of LNG refuelling points, at least along the existing across the TEN-T Ccore Netwridorks, to ensure that LNG heavy-duty motor vehicles can circulate throughout the Union, and at maritime and inland ports to enable LNG inland waterway vessels or sea-going ships to circulate throughout the TEN-T Core Network; recalls that Member States should assess, in their national policy frameworks, in close cooperation with their regional authorities, the need to install refuelling points for LNG in ports outside the TEN-T Core Network;
Amendment 49 #
E. whereas the EU is still not able to fully exploit the benefits of an integrated internal energy market due to a lack of coherence and key gas infrastructure that would properly connect the markets and due to incomplete implementation of the Third Energy Package;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that transport policies, such as the Directive 2014/94 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, should make a stronger case to move to natural gas to improve air quality, as gas is the only alternative to diesel oil in heavy transport; in this sense, there is also room to consider establishing an Emission Control Area (ECA) in the Mediterranean Sea to abate emissions from maritime transport;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the framework strategy for a resilient Energy Union with a forward- looking climate change policy defines as a priority supply security, diversification, sustainability goals and promotes more competitive energy pricefive mutually-reinforcing and closely interrelated dimensions: Energy security, a fully integrated European energy market; Energy efficiency, decarbonisation of the economy, and Research, Innovation and Competitiveness;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Considers that fostering the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel in transport is an important global challenge and calls for a commitment to achieve emission reductions through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO);
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that an EU Strategy for liquefied natural gas must be consistent with the framework strategy for a resilient Energy Union so as to contribute to increased security of energy supply, decarbonisation, the long-term sustainability of the economy and the delivery of affordable and competitive energy prices;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stress the need to make the EU gas system more diverse and flexible, thus contributing to the key Energy Union objective of a secure, resilient and competitive gas supply;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the need to promote the most efficient use of existing LNG terminals, with a cross-border perspective, before supporting new regasification terminals;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recalls that the EU as a whole is sufficiently supplied with LNG regasification terminals and acknowledges that, due to the past years' weak internal gas demand and a relatively high global price of LNG, several EU LNG regasification terminals are experiencing low utilisation rates; stresses that despite a non-optimal distribution of LNG terminals, access to LNG in the most vulnerable Member States could be supported through further development of internal interconnections;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Underlines that priority should be given to market-based solutions and to the utilisation of existing LNG infrastructure on a regional level, as this would reduce the risk of stranded assets;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses that in order to avoid stranded assets, a careful analysis of LNG supply alternatives and options on a regional level as well as from an environmentally sustainable perspective, should be carried out before deciding about new infrastructure, in order to guarantee the most efficient use of existing infrastructure taking into account the Union's climate and energy targets;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Stresses the importance of regional cooperation when building new LNG terminals and underlines that Member States with access to the sea should cooperate closely with landlocked countries; stresses that, in that regard, an optimal use of the west-east and south- north corridors with improved reverse- flow capacity, would allow the transmission of LNG in countries that don't have direct access to a regasification terminal;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Recalls that the development of interconnections and the removal of internal bottlenecks will promote a better use of existing storage facilities even in the Member States that do not have sufficient storage capacity available in their territory;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Agrees with the assessment of the Commission that Member States in the Baltic region and in central and south- eastern Europe, and Ireland – despite the huge infrastructure development efforts realised by certain Member States – are still dependeheavily reliant on a single supplier and are exposed to supply shocks and disruptions;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Paragraph 5 g (new)
5g. Highlights the Commission's Communication on the 2050 Energy Roadmap, which illustrates that fossil fuels such as gas will need to be phased out by 2050; considers therefore that new gas infrastructure should only be prioritised in case of necessity and should always respond to a real gas demand, in order to avoid the creation of a new carbon lock-in and of possible stranded assets;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new)
Paragraph 5 h (new)
5h. Stresses that in order to avoid stranded assets, a careful analysis of LNG supply alternatives and options in a regional perspective should be carried out in order to guarantee the most efficient use of existing and future infrastructure; when having to decide how to give access to LNG for a given Member State, it should be assessed whether it is better to enhance/develop interconnections and use existing LNG infrastructure in other Member States against building a new LNG terminal in that Member State;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to develop a strategy that aims at lessening EU gas dependency in the long-term reflecting its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Underlines that an EU 2030 target for energy efficiency, if revised upwards, would have a significant impact on energy dependency, reducing, in particular, gas imports; highlights in this regard that, according to the European Commission’s Communication on Energy Efficiency (COM(2014)520), for every 1% improvement in energy efficiency, EU gas imports falls by 2.6%; stresses in this respect, that treating energy efficiency as a ‘first fuel’ would significantly reduce EU dependency on imported fossil fuels;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Recalls, in this respect, that the Parliament has repeatedly called for binding 2030 climate and energy targets of at least a 40% domestic reduction in GHG emissions, at least 30% for renewables and 40% for energy efficiency, to be implemented by means of individual national targets;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Stresses that care should be taken with regard to investment in LNG or gas infrastructure to avoid the risk of technology lock-in or stranded assets in fossil fuel infrastructures;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Stresses the need to promote the most efficient use of existing LNG terminals, with a cross-border perspective, before supporting new regasification terminals;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that even though the EU as a whole is sufficiently supplied with LNG regasification terminals and in recent years a low utilisation rate has characterised the terminals as a result of recent market trends, non-optimal distribution of LNG terminals presents a challenge, and access to LNG inll Member States, especially the most vulnerable Member Statones, should be supporhave access to LNG either directly or indirectly through other Member Stateds;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that even though the EU as a whole is sufficiently supplied with LNG regasification terminals and in recent years a low utilisation rate has characterised the terminals as a result of recent market trends,acknowledges that, due to the past years' weak internal gas demand and a relatively high global price on LNG, several EU LNG regasification terminals are experiencing low utilization rates; Stresses that despite a non-optimal distribution of LNG terminals presents a challenge, and, access to LNG in the most vulnerable Member States shcould be supported; through further development of internal interconnections;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that priority should be given to market-based solutions and to the utilisation of existing LNG infrastructure on a regional level, as this would reduce the risk of stranded assets;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that in order to avoid stranded assets, a careful analysis of LNG supply alternatives and options in a regional perspective should be carried out before deciding about new infrastructure in order to guarantee the most efficientin order to guarantee the most efficient use of existing and future infrastructure; when having to decide how to give access to LNG for a given Member State, it should be assessed whether it is better to enhance/develop interconnections and use of existing LNG infrastructure; in other Member States against building a new LNG terminal in that Member State;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that in order to avoid stranded assets, a careful analysis of LNG supply alternatives and options in a regional perspectiveas well as from an environmentally sustainable perspective, taking into account the Union's climate and energy targets, should be carried out before deciding about new infrastructure in order to guarantee the most efficient use of existing infrastructure;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the importance of regional cooperation when building new LNG terminals and underlines that Member States with access to the sea should cooperate closely with landlocked countries; stresses that, in this regards, an optimal use of the west-east and south- north corridors with improved reverse- flow capacity, would allow the transmission of LNG in countries that don't have direct access to a regasification terminal;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Urges the Commission and the Member States to fully implement key projects of common interest (PCIs), and to assign high priority to projects identified by the three regional high-level groups; stresses that building LNG terminals which are necessary and compatible to gas demands is not sufficient – supporting pipeline infrastructure with appropriate tariffs is indispensable for the benefits to be realised outside the receiving countries;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls that the development of interconnections and the removal of internal bottlenecks will promote a better use of existing storage facilities even in the Member States that do not have sufficient storage capacity available in their territory;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises that a more extensive use of Ukraine’s storage capacity will only be possible if an appropriate, stable commercial and legal framework and the integrity of supply infrastructure is guaranteed in Ukraine provided the right level of gas interconnections is in place, so that energy can flow freely across the borders without physical barriers;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the importance of finding cost efficient energy supply options to increase supply security in the Member States onand market integration for Cyprus, Malta, the pIberiphery of the EU, sucan Peninsula, the South-South Eas Cyprus, Maltat region, the Baltic States and Ireland, which are not well connected and/or integrated to the internal energy market;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the importance of finding cost efficient and environmentally sustainable energy supply options to increase supply security in the Member States on the periphery of the EU, such as Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, which are not well connected to the internal energy market;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that finding cost efficient solutions should be a key principle in reaching the EU and regional optimum and calls on the Commission, the Member States and national regulatory authorities to allocate the limited available resources to the development of critical infrastructure, mainly the projects identified in the Commission communication COM(2016) on an EU strategy for liquefied natural gas and gas storage;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that finding cost efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions should be a key principle in reaching the EU and regional optimum and calls on the Commission, the Member States and national regulatory authorities to allocate the limited available resources to the development of critical infrastructure;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Highlights the Commission's Communication of the 2050 Energy Roadmap, which illustrates that fossil fuels such as gas will need to be phased out by 2050; considers therefore that new gas infrastructure should only be prioritised in case of necessity and should always respond to a real gas demand, in order to avoid the creation of a new carbon lock-in and of possible stranded assets;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights the important role that well-interconnected liquid gas hubs play on the gas markets, that would ensure a single integrated market where gas can freely flow across the borders according to market price signals;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recalls the continuous need for active cooperation between theGovernments, national regulatory authorities and main stakeholders on cross-border investments, keeping always in mind an European perspective besides the national interests;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the need to develop harmonised tariff structures across the EU and to increase transparency in tariff definition in order to reach a higher utilisation rate of existing gas storages and takes the view that the network code on rules regarding harmonised transmission tariff structures for gas should take into consideration the need for harmonisfurther approximation;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Supports the Commission’'s proposal to enable the deployment of bio- methane and other renewable gases which comply with relevant EU quality standards in gas transmission, distribution and storage; emphasises that this should not put additional burden on the industry; recommendsasks the Commission, in this respect, theo consideration of technical parameters, gas quality, cost efficiency, economies of scale and and develop harmonised technical parameters, criteria for gas quality, and to develop a strategy encouraging possible local or regional grid solutions;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Supports the Commission’s proposal to enable the deployment of bio- methane and other renewable gases (such as synthetic gas produced by Power-to- Gas technology) which comply with relevant EU quality standards in gas transmission, distribution and storage; emphasises that this should not put additional burden on the industry; recommends, in this respect, the consideration of technical parameters, gas quality, cost efficiency, economies of scale and possible local or regional grid solutions;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Urges the Members States to fully implement the third energy package particularly in relation to the provisions on granting access to bio-methane to the grid and to storage facilities; highlights in this regard Directive 2009/73/EC, according to which Member States should ensure that, taking into account the necessary quality requirements, biogas and gas from biomass or other types of gas are granted non-discriminatory access to the gas system, provided such access is permanently compatible with the relevant technical rules and safety standards;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Encourages LNG and storage operators andin cooperation with national regulatory authorities to develop new flexible products and services in order to make storing more attractive and to create the still missing technical, regulatory and market conditions, compliant with the EU current legislation, in order to make LNG regasification and storing more attractive, and in order to maximise the utilisation of existing storagLNG and storages facilities;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Highlights the role of immediate, high-flexibility services that gas storage offers and points out the different role that storage can play during a supply disruption compared to LNG where logistics in the supply chain are rather rigid on such a short-term basimight not grant the same responsiveness;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Highlights the role of immediate, high-flexibility services that gas storage offers in some countries and points out the different role that storage can play during a supply disruption compared to LNG where logistics in the supply chain are rather rigid on such a short-term basis;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes the emerging global trend for increasing liquefaction capacity and its expected positive effepotential impact on the European gas markets;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Acknowledges the potential of LNG as a sustainable fuel, both in road and maritime transport; underlines that wider use of LNG in freight transport could contribute to the decrease of global CO2 emissions of CO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and to eliminate sulphur oxides (SOx) and particles;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Acknowledges the potential of LNG as a sustainable fuel, both in road and maritime transport; underlines that wider use of LNG in freight transport could contribute to the decrease of global CO2 emissions;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure full implementation of Directive 2014/94/EU on alternative fuels, including the establishment of LNG refuelling points across the TEN-T corridors and at maritime and inland ports by establishing a harmonised regulatory and standardisation framework that encourages the development of LNG as alternative fuel for road and maritime transport, replacing more polluting conventional fuels;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Underlines that EU should continue to support the growth of LNG as an alternative fuel only where it replaces more polluting conventional fuels and does not take the place of renewable energy sources, consistent with sustainability goals;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Urges that transport policies, such as the Directive 2014/94 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, make a stronger case to move to natural gas to improve air quality, as gas is the only alternative to diesel oil in heavy transport; in this sense, there is also room to consider establishing an Emission Control Area (ECA) in the Mediterranean Sea to abate emissions from maritime transport;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Considers that fostering the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel in transport is an important global challenge and calls for a commitment to achieve emission reductions should be obtained through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO);