Activities of Henrike HAHN related to 2020/0100(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism
Amendments (32)
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal on 11 December 20199 , drawing its roadmap towards a new growth policy for Europe and setting ambitious objectives to counter climate change and for environmental protection. In line with the objective to achieve climate neutrality in the Union by 205040 or before in an effective and fair manner, the European Green Deal announced a Just Transition Mechanism to provide means for facing the climate challenge while leaving no one behind. The most vulnerable regions and people are the most exposed to the harmful effects of climate change and environmental degradation. At the same time, managing the transition requires significant structural changes. _________________ 9 COM(2019) 640 final.
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Commission adopted a Communication on the European Green Deal Investment Plan10 on 14 January 2020, establishing the Just Transition Mechanism which focuses on the regions, people and sectors that are currently most affected by the transition given their dependence on fossil fuels, including coal, peat and oil shale or greenhouse gas- intensive industrial processes but have less capacity to finance the necessary investments. The Just Transition Mechanism consists of three pillars: a Just Transition Fund implemented under shared management, a dedicated just transition scheme under InvestEU, and a public sector loan facility to mobilise additional investments to the regions concerned. _________________ 10 COM(2020) 21 final.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The proposal for establishing the Just Transition Fund was adopted by the Commission on 14 January 202011 . For the better programming and implementation of the Fund, territorial just transition plans are to be adopted, setting out the key steps and timeline of the transition process and identifying the territories most negatively affected by the transition towards a climate neutral economy and with less capacity to deal with the transition challenges. The partnership principle applies for the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the territorial just transition plans as referred to in Article [7] of Regulation [JTF Regulation]. _________________ 11 COM(2020) 22 final
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A public sector loan facility (the ‘Facility’) should be provided. It constitutes the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism, supporting public sector entities in their investments. Such investments should meet the development needs resulting from the transition challenges described in the territorial just transition plans as adopted by the Commission. The activities envisaged for support should be consistent with and complement those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition MechanismRegulation ((EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment [Taxonomy Regulation] and complement and ensure synergies with those supported under the other two pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism. Investments that are inconsistent with the achievement of the Union’s climate and environmental objectives should not be eligible for support under this Facility.
Amendment 55 #
(5) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the Facility should cover a wide range of investments, on condition that they contribute to meet the development needs in the transition towards a climate neutral economy, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover energy and transport infrastructure, district heating networks, green mobilitythe Union’s new 2030 targets for climate and energy and a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2040 or before, as described in the territorial just transition plans. The investments supported may cover clean technology and infrastructure for renewable energy and the decarbonisation of the transport sector, district heating networks, green and sustainable mobility, investments in research, innovation and digitalisation, smart waste management, clean renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, including renovations and conversions of buildings, support to transition to a circular economy, land restoration and decontamination, unless falling under the scope of liabilities for environmental damage in accordance with the polluter pays principle referred to in Article 191 TFEU, as well as up- and re-skilling, training and social infrastructure, including social housing. Infrastructure developments may also include solutions leading to their enhanced resilience to withstand ecological disasters. Comprehensive investment approach should be favoured in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors could also be supported if they are consistent with the adopted territorial just transition plans. By supporting investments that do not generate sufficient revenues, the Facility aims at providing public sector entities with additional resources necessary to address the social, economic and environmental challenges resulting from the adjustment to climate transition. In order to help identify investments with a high positive environmental impact eligible under the Facility, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities may be used. and that can make a substantial contribution to the Union’s climate and energy targets as well as to the maintaining of biodiversity, while respecting the principle of do no harm, the EU taxonomy on environmentally sustainable economic activities should be used. Investments should be screened to determine whether they have an environmental, climate or social impact and if necessary they should be subject to sustainability proofing in accordance with the guidance to be developed by the Commission under the InvestEU Programme.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) The objectives of the Facility should be pursued in the framework of sustainable development and the Union's promotion of the aim of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment as set out in Article 11 and Article 191(1) of the TFEU, taking into account the polluter pays principle and the commitments agreed under the Paris Agreement.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 c (new)
Recital 5 c (new)
(5 c) The Member States and the Commission should ensure that the implementation of the Facility contributes to the respect and the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU. Evaluations have shown the importance of taking the gender equality objectives into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of operational programmes, in a timely and consistent manner and therefore requires gender impact assessments, gender budgeting and monitoring of results from a gender perspective to be part of the programming cycle.
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to ensure that all Member States are granted the possibility to benefit from the grant component, a mechanism should be set up to establish earmarked national shares to be respected during a first stage, based on the distribution key proposed in the Just Transition Fund Regulation. The needs of less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation .../... [new CPR] should be taken into account. However, in order to reconcile that objective with the need to optimise the economic impact of the Facility and its implementation, such national allocations should not be earmarked after 31 December 2024. Thereafter, the remaining resources available for the grant component should be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level, while ensuring predictability for investment and following a needs-based and regional convergence approach and promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Specific eligibility conditions and award criteria should be set out in the work programme and the call for proposals. Those eligibility conditions and award criteria should take into account the relevance of the project in the context of the development needs described in the territorial just transition plant criteria established by EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Investment, the ability of the project to meet the objectives and development needs described in the territorial just transition plans, the contribution to the climate transition, the adoption by the public sector entity requesting support of a phase-out plan for all fossil fuels in a timeframe compatible with the Paris Agreement goals, the overall objective of promoting regioneconomic, social and territorial convergencehesion and the significance of the grant component for the viability of the project. Union Support established by this Regulation should thus only be made available to Member States with at least one territorial just transition plan adopted. The work programme and calls for proposals will also take into account the territorial just transition plans submitted by Member States to ensure that coherence and consistency across the different pillars of the mechanism is ensured.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The Facility shall provide support benefitting Union territories facing serious social, environmental and economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards the Union’s new 2030 targets for climate and energy and a climate-neutral economy ofin the Union by 205040 or before.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5
5. 'territorial just transition plan' means a plan established together with relevant local and regional authorities and stakeholders of the territory concerned in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation] and approved by the Commission;
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
5 a. The 'do no harm' principle means refraining from inflicting 'significant harm to environmental objectives' as defined in Article 17 of the Regulation (EU) 2020/852 [Taxonomy Regulation];
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Facility is to address serious socio- economic and environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy for the benefit of the Union territories identified in the territorial just transition plans prepared by the Member States in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation [JTF Regulation] and to contribute to the EU policy objectives, in particular the Union’s new 2030 targets for climate and energy and the transition towards a climate-neutral economy in the Union by 2040 or before, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 181 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
5. An amount up to 2% of the resources referred to in paragraph 1 may be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Facility such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit, information, communication, publicity and evaluation activities including corporate information and technology systems, as well as administrative expenditure and fees of the finance partners.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. For grants awarded pursuant to calls for proposals launched as from 1 January 2025, Union support awarded to eligible projects shall be provided without any pre-allocated national share and on a competitive basis at Union level until exhaustion of remaining resources. The award of such grants shall place special attention on less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation .../... [newCPR] and take into account the need to ensure predictability of investment and the promotion of regional econvergenceomic, social and territorial cohesion .
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementing act setting out the respective shares for each Member State resulting from the application of the methodology set out in Annex I of Regulation [JTF Regulation] and the application of a redistributive factor taking into account the need of less developed regions as referred to in Article [102(2)] of Regulation .../... [new CPR] in the form of percentages of the total available resources.
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the projects achieve measurable impact in addressing serious social, economic or environmental challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy and benefitthe Union’s new 2030 targets for climate and energy and a climate-neutral economy in the Union by 2040 or before and contribute to the objectives and needs of the territories identified in a territorial just transition plan, even if they are not located in those territories;
Amendment 213 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) the projects are consistent with the criteria established by the Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment [Taxonomy Regulation];
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) the projects have been subject to a gender impact assessment;
Amendment 229 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 b (new)
The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, establish the guidelines on how to conduct the impact assessment referred to in point (da) of paragraph 1 and to specify the content and format of the information and data to be provided. These guidelines shall be developed in cooperation with the implementing partners and after consulting the relevant experts and stakeholders, in particular national women's organisations from Member States.
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
Amendment 250 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
The Facility shall be implemented by work programmes established in accordance with Article 110 of the Financial Regulation. The work programmes shall set out the national shares of resources, including any additional resources, for each Member State in accordance with Articles 4(1) and 6(2) of this RegulationCommission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 17 in order to establish work programmes in accordance with Article 110 of the Financial Regulation. The work programmes shall specify the criteria and conditions for the selection and for the prioritisation of projects, taking into account the relevant criteria laid down by Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment [Taxonomy Regulation], the project’s ability to meet the objectives and needs identified in the territorial just transition plans, the contribution to the climate transition, the adoption by the public sector entities requesting financing of a credible decarbonisation plan, including dates for the phase-out of fossil fuels in a timeframe compatible with the Paris Agreement targets, as well as the overall objective of promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion and the grant’s contribution to the viability of projects.
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13 a Selection of finance partners other than the EIB The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 17 of this Regulation in order to set out the details of eligibility conditions and selection procedures for finance partners other than EIB. The eligibility conditions for the finance partners other than the EIB shall reflect the objectives of the Facility. In particular, when selecting the finance partners, the Commission shall take into account their capacity: (a) to ensure that their energy lending policy and standards are at least as stringent as the ones applied by the EIB; (b) to maximise the impact of the EU guarantee through own resources; (c) to ensure appropriate geographical diversification of the Facility and allow for the financing of smaller projects; (d) to implement thoroughly the requirements set out in Articles 155(2) and 155(3) of the Financial Regulation concerning tax avoidance, tax fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, terrorism financing and non-cooperative jurisdictions; (e) to ensure transparency and public access to information concerning each project; (f) to ensure the consistency of their lending policy with the new Union’s 2030 targets for climate and energy and the objective of a climate neutral economy in the Union by 2040 and the alignment with the EU commitments under the Paris Agreement; (g) to integrate the analysis of environmental, climate, social and governance factors in the selection and evaluation of projects. The Commission shall publish the selection results.
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Commission shall report annually on the implementation of the Facility in accordance with Article 250 of the Financial Regulation. That report shall provide information on the results and impact of the Facility with respect to its objectives and performance indicators, in particular its contribution to addressing the transition needs and to the EU sustainability objectives including its impact on climate, the environment, the social dimension and gender equality. For that purpose, finance partners and beneficiaries shall provide on an annual basis all the necessary information and data.
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. The projects financed under this Facility shall be screened to determine whether they have an environmental, climate, social or gender impact. If those projects have such an impact they shall be subject to a sustainability proofing mechanism, with a view to minimise detrimental impacts and maximise benefits on climate, environment and social dimensions as well as on gender equality, in line with EU sustainability objectives, on the basis of the guidance to be developed by the Commission under the InvestEU Programme. For that purpose, entities requesting financing shall provide adequate information based on the guidance by the Commission. Projects below a certain size defined in the guidance shall be excluded from the proofing.
Amendment 268 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. Audits on the use of the Union support provided under the Facility shall be carried out by persons or entities, including by other than those mandated by the Union Instituthe Court of Auditors in accordance with Article 287 TFEU. The Court of Auditors shall issue a special report on the implementations or bodies, shall form the basis of the overall assurance pursuant to Article 127 of the Financialf the Facility once the rate of implementation of the projects financed reaches at least 60%, but no later than five years after the entry into force of this Regulation.
Amendment 279 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Commission shall make publicly available upon delivery any opinions issued on the projects selected or financed under this Facility in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 19 of the Statute of the EIB.
Amendment 285 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.4
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.4
6.4 Direct support to transiclimate transition, decarbonisation (renewable energy, energy efficiency) and other environmental objectives
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.4 a (new)
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.4 a (new)
6.4 a Substantial contribution to sustainability objectives as defined in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment [Taxonomy Regulation]
Amendment 287 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.6 a (new)
Annex II – point 6 – point 6.6 a (new)
6.6 a Quality of housing (including energy efficiency)