18 Amendments of Josianne CUTAJAR 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 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 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1 b) In line with the Union’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the ‘Paris Agreement’), the Union has established legal obligations through the Regulation (EU) 2021/11191a to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and to achieve a reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % compared to 1990 by 2030. Accordingly, various policy instruments are needed to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in all economic sectors, including the aviation sector. Currently, aviation relies exclusively on fossil jet fuel to operate, and growing passenger numbers have rapidly increased net emissions from the sector. The total air passenger traffic in Europe has more than doubled since 1990. CO2 emissions from aviation are projected to increase more than 20 % by 2050, compared to 2015. To reverse this trend and support the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, action is needed to ramp up the uptake and supply of sustainable aviation fuels. _________________ 1aRegulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’)(OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1).
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) The Smart Sustainable Mobility Strategy stresses that in order for such transformation to leave no one behind, mobility must remain available and affordable to all. To ensure this, among other, connectivity of islands, rural and remote regions, must be maintained and improved, while the sector must offer appropriate social conditions, allowing for reskilling of workers and providing attractive jobs.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) SThis Regulation aims at establishing a common definition of sustainable aviation fuels as fuels from renewable sources. Currently, the most common 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 aviationch 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 expected to progressively contribute to the decarbonisation of air transport, beginning with short-haul flights. This Regulation shall promote the investment in and uptake of all renewable energy fuel sources that can contribute to the decarbonisation objectives set by the EU’s Climate Law.
Amendment 80 #
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 are expected to help reducing short-haul aviation’s reliance on fossil energy in the next decades, and new zero-emission aircraft technologies, such as electric- or hydrogen-powered aircraft can play an important role in commercial aviation in the medium and long term, sustainable aviation fuels offer the onlymain solution for significant decarbonisation of all flight ranges, already in the short term. However, this potential is currently largely untapped. _________________ 10Communication 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 89 #
(12) Therefore, uniform rules need to be laid down for the aviation internal market to complement Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and to deliver on its overall objectives by addressing the specific needs and requirements arising fromissues that impede the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels in the EU’s aviation internal market. In particular, the present Regulation aims to avoid a fragmentation of the aviation market, prevent possible competitive distortions between economic actors, or unfair practices of cost avoidance as regards the refuelling of aircraft operators. For these reasons, this Regulation shall focus on preserving the affordability and competitiveness of air routes affected by new provisions that connect remote regions with both EU and non-EU airports. Remote regions shall be defined as in Regulation (EU) No 651/20141a. Specifically for islands and island Member States air routes connecting such territories to the continent must be protected to ensure the freedom of movement of island citizens within the Union. _________________ 1a Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Therefore, uniform rules need to be laid down for the aviation internal market to complement Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and to deliver on its overall objectives by addressing the specific needs and requirements arising from the EU aviation internal market and promoting sustainable renewable fuels in aviation. In particular, the present Regulation aims to avoid a fragmentation of the aviation market, prevent possible competitive distortions between economic actors, or unfair practices of cost avoidance as regards the refuelling of aircraft operators. All this said, this Regulation should pay special attention to those air routes connecting islands with the continent. Affordable air transport is a condition for the right of freedom of movement within the Union for the citizens from insular regions.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15 a) It is essential that less-connected European regions with few alternative transport modes are not disproportionately affected by the obligations resulting from this Regulation and that the access of these regions to essential goods and services is ensured. Special attention must be paid to price disruptions in air routes that connect islands with the continent. The almost total reliance of insular regions' citizens on air transport to travel to continental regions means that price increases in these routes would suppose an obstacle for Union citizens to exercise their right of free movement within the Union, and would also effect islands' economies.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15 a) The Commission should ensure that less connected remote regions suffering from geographical disadvantages such as insularity, are not disproportionately impacted by the obligations present in this Regulation. To ensure the uninterrupted, affordable supply of goods and services, attention should be paid to potential increases in the prices of air routes connecting remote regions and other areas of the Union. Mitigating measures should be in place to avoid negative consequences on remote regions and islands. Where the Regulation is proven to negatively impact the socio-economic fabric of remote regions, including islands and island Member States, the Commission should immediately take corrective action.
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The present Regulation should aim to ensure that aircraft operators can compete on the basis of equal opportunities as regards the access to sustainable aviation fuels. To avoid any distortions on the air services market, all Union airports covered by this Regulation should be supplied with uniform minimum shares of sustainable aviation fuels. Whereas the market is free to supply and use larger quantities of sustainable fuel, this Regulation should ensure that the mandatory minimum shares of sustainable aviation fuels are the same across all the covered airports. ItMoreover, in order to take into account the criticality of air routes connecting islands with the continent, the access to sustainable fuel should be prioritised for island airports in face of significant price disruptions. This Regulation supersedes any requirements established directly or indirectly at national or regional level requiring aircraft operators or aviation fuel suppliers to uptake or supply sustainable aviation fuels with different targets than the ones prescribed under this Regulation. In order to create a clear and predictable legal framework and in doing so encourage the market development and deployment of the most sustainable and innovative with growth potential to meet future needs fuel technologies, this Regulation should set out gradually increasing minimum shares of synthetic aviation fuels over time. Setting out a dedicated sub-obligation on synthetic aviation fuels is necessary in view of the significant decarbonisation potential of such fuels, and in view of their current estimated production costs. When produced from renewable electricity and carbon captured directly from the air, synthetic aviation fuels can achieve as high as 100% emissions savings compared to conventional aviation fuel. They also have notable advantages compared to other types of sustainable aviation fuels with regards to resource efficiency (in particular for water needs) of the production process. However, synthetic aviation fuels’ production costs are currently estimated at 3 to 6 times higher than the market price of conventional aviation fuel. Therefore, this Regulation should establish a dedicated sub-obligation for this technology. Other types of synthetic fuels, such as low carbon synthetic fuels achieving high greenhouse gas reductions, could be considered for inclusion in the scope of this Regulation in the course of future revisions, where such fuels become defined under the Renewable Energy Directive.
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 a (new)
Article 4 a (new)
Article 4 a Measures on short-haul flights By 1 July 2023, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council evaluating the environmental and climate impacts and the technical and economic viability of establishing specific requirements for short-haul flights to reduce such impacts, including the setting of higher minimum shares of sustainable aviation fuels referred to in Article 4 for these types of flights, taking into account the alternative modes of collective transport available to cover such services in a competitive period of time. This report has to take into consideration that air routes connecting island airports to continental airports are critical for island citizens' connectivity and islands' economies, and this Regulation should not harm any of them.
Amendment 237 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 10 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 10 a (new)
- ‘remote regions’ shall be defined as in Article 2, second paragraph, of Regulation (EU) No 651/20141a _________________ 1a Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty
Amendment 249 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
By 1 January 20286 and every five years thereafter, the Commission services shall present a report to the European Parliament and the Council, on the application of this Regulation, evolution of the aviation fuels market and itsthe impact of this Regulation 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 Directivethe impact on air routes connecting islands with the continent, the social impacts as well as the related employment and training needs, the possible revision of the minimum shares in Article 4 and Annex I, and the level of administrative fines. The report shall include information, where available, 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, where appropriate, in line with a potential policy framework on sustainable aviation fuels uptake at ICAO leveland the development of technologies such as electric- powered or hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The Commission shall accompany the reports referred to in this Article, where appropriate, with legislative proposals amending this Regulation in particular in relation to: (a) the minimum shares referred to in Article 4 and Annex I. (b) the aligment of this Regulation with a potential policy framework on sustainable aviation fuels uptake at ICAO level in a manner that is consistent with the aim of preserving the environmental integrity and effectiveness of Union climate action, in particular the Union economy-wide greenhouse gases emissions reduction target for 2030 and the climate-neutrality objective as defined in Regulation (EU)2021/1119. (c) any possible disruptions on air routes connecting islands with the continent, taking into account their citizens' reliance on air transport to move within the Union.
Amendment 371 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9 a Measures on flights to remote regions One year after the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and Council on flights to remote regions evaluating the socio-economic impact of this Regulation for such flights. Where such report highlights the need to modify the minimum shares of aviation fuels referred to in Article 4 for flights to remote regions, such decisions shall be taken in consideration of the availability of other convenient modes of collective transport to cover such routes. The report shall specifically assess those routes connecting islands and island Member States to the continent, evaluating the impact of this Regulation on their communities.
Amendment 424 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
By 1 January 20286 and every five 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 specifically evaluate the impact of this Regulation on the competitiveness of air routes from less connected remote regions, including island Member States, and assess the economic and social impact this Regulation may have on jobs and on affordability of transport in these territories. The report shall include information, where available, 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, where appropriate, in line with a potential policy framework on sustainable aviation fuels uptake at ICAO level.
Amendment 429 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)