Activities of Niklas NIENASS related to 2023/0081(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act) (debate)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 16 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) Member States can provide support from cohesion policy programmes in line with applicable rules under Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council57 to encourage the take up of net-zero strategic projects in less developed and transition regions through investment packages of infrastructure, productive investment in innovation, manufacturing capacity in SMEs, services, training and upskilling measure, including support to capacity building of the public authorities and promoters. Additionally, all cohesion funding that is unspent one year before the ending of the funding period may be redirected back to the Commission to be taken into account for financing of Net- Zero projects under direct management, mitigating the risk of de-commitments of unused funds. The applicable co-financing rates set in programmes may be up to 85% for less developed regions and up to 60% or 70% for transition regions depending on the fund concerned and the status of the region but Member States may exceed these ceilings at the level of the project concerned, where feasible under State aid rules. The Technical Support Instrument can help Member States and regions in preparing net-zero growth strategies, improve the business environment, reducing red tape and accelerating permitting. Member States should be encouraged to promote the sustainability of net-zero strategic projects by embedding these investments in European value chains, building notably on interregional and cross border cooperation networks. _________________ 57 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159).
Amendment 24 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47 a (new)
Recital 47 a (new)
(47a) In order to avoid further divergence in the social, economic and territorial cohesion , the Commission shall set out a calculation method to identify an individual state aid threshold for each Member State. This shall mitigate the risk of advantages due to greater financial resources that do not reflect the share of industries present in certain Member States. The calculation method shall take into account indicators such as population data, industrial capacities and infrastructure, and economic performance.
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48 a (new)
Recital 48 a (new)
(48a) In order to ensure strategic territorial development and cohesion, municipalities should be granted shareholder rights of Net-Zero projects located in their NUTS 2 region. The shareholding would allow a direct benefit for the regions, contribute to their social and economic development and ensure a green and sustainable transition.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 58
Recital 58
(58) Land use conflicts can create barriers to the deployment of net zero technologies manufacturing projects. Well- designed plans, including spatial plans and zoning, that take into account the potential for implementing net-zero technologies manufacturing projects and whose potential environmental impacts are assessed, have the potential to help balance public goods and interests, decreasing the potential for conflict and accelerating the sustainable deployment of net-zero technologies manufacturing projects in the Union. Responsible national, regional and local authorities should therefore, after consultation of social partners and civil society organisations, consider the inclusion of provisions for net-zero technologies manufacturing projects when developing relevant plans.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 69
Recital 69
(69) At Union level, a Net-Zero Europe Platform, should be established, composed of the Member States and chaired by the Commission. The Net-Zero Europe Platform may advise and assist the Commission and Member States on specific questions and provide a reference body, in which the Commission and Member States coordinate their action and facilitate the exchange of information on issues relating to this Regulation. The Net- Zero Europe Platform should further perform the tasks outlined in the different Articles of this Regulation, notably in relation to permitting, including one-stop shops, Net-Zero Strategic Projects, coordination of financing, access to markets and skills as well as innovative net-zero technologies regulatory sandboxes. Where necessary, the Platform may establish standing or temporary subgroups and invite third parties, such asAdditionally, the Net-Zero Platform should assess the progress of NUTS 2 regions and support their development to ensure social, economic and territorial cohesion. Where necessary, the Platform may establish standing or temporary subgroups and invite third parties, notably the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions, as well as social partners, civil society organisations, and experts or representatives from net- zero industries.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 70
Recital 70
(70) As part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan the Commission announced its intention to conclude Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships covering net-zero technologies, to adopt net-zero technologies globally and to support the role of EU industrial capabilities in paving the way for the global clean energy transition. The Commission and Member States mayshould coordinate within the Platform the Partnerships, discussing existing relevant partnerships and processes, such as green partnerships, energy dialogues and other forms of existing bilateral contractual arrangements, as well as potential synergies with relevant Member States’ bilateral agreements with third countries.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 71
Recital 71
(71) The Union should aim to diversify international trade and investments in net- zero technologies and to promote globally high social and environmental standards should be done in close cooperation and partnership with like-minded countries. Similarly, stronger research and innovation efforts to develop and deploy net-zero technologies should be pursued in close cooperation with partner countries in an open but assertive approach.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Under the coordinated procedure referred to in the first subparagraph, the national competent authority shall, with the involvement of local and regional authorities, as well as social partners and civil society organisations, coordinate the various individual assessments of the environmental impact of a particular project required by the applicable Union legislation.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. When preparing plans, including zoning, spatial plans and land use plans, national, regional and local authorities, in cooperation with social partners and civil society organisations in the respective territory, shall, where appropriate, include in those plans provisions for the development of net-zero technology manufacturing projects, including net-zero strategic projects. Priority shall be given to artificial and built surfaces, industrial sites, brownfield sites, and, where appropriate, greenfield sites not usable for agriculture and forestry.
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member StatesThe Commission shall recognise as net-zero strategic projects CO2 storage projects that meet the following cumulative criteria:
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. Net-zero technology manufacturing projects corresponding to a technology listed in the Annex located in ‘less developed and transition regions’ and Just Transition Fund Territories and eligible for funding under cohesion policy rules, shall be recognised by Member States as net- zero strategic projects under Article 11(3) upon request of the project promoter without the project promoter having to submit a formal application under Article 11(2). The Commission shall nevertheless verify the adherence to the technologies listed in the Annex.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
(1) Net-zero technology manufacturing projects corresponding to a technology listed in the Annex located in all regions and eligible under cohesion policy rules shall be recognised by Member States as net-zero strategic projects under Article 11(3) upon request of the project promoter without the project promoter having to submit a business plan as listed under Article 11(2b).
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a (new)
Article10a State aid thresholds for Member States for Net-Zero project investments 1. In order to ensure the proportional disbursement of state aid by the individual Member States, the Commission shall identify an individual threshold for state aid per Member State that reflects the average investment amount to prevent further divergence in the development of regions. 2. The Commission shall propose a method of calculation for the threshold that takes into account indicators of possible unequal distribution of state aid between Member States, such as financial resources, share of industries and population data in EU-average.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. Applications for recognition of net- zero technology projects as net-zero strategic projects shall be submitted by the project promoter to the relevant Member State, who shall submit all approved projects to the Commission for confirmation.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4
Article 11 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission mayshall provide its opinion on the approved projects of the Member State. In the case of a rejection of the application by a Member State, the applicant shall have the right to submit the application to the Commission, which shall assess the application within 20 working days.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 7
Article 11 – paragraph 7
7. Projects which are no longer recognised as net-zero strategic project referred to in paragraph 6 and in accordance with Art. 35 (1a) shall lose all rights connected to that status under this Regulation.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)
Article 15 a (new)
Article15a Net-Zero project share gains Those municipalities and NUTS 2 regions with entities that receive investments due to the classification as strategic Net-Zero projects shall be entitled to become shareholders depending on the market value and the amount of investments received. Member States shall, in coordination with the Commission, specify the appropriate shareholder proportion.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Commission shall support, including through the provision of seed- funding, the establishment of European Net Zero Industry Academies, whichith priority given to transition and less developed regions according to cohesion policy rules. The Academies shall have as their objectives to:
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. In order to identify regions with a particular need for European Net-Zero Academies, Member States shall evaluate the number of applications and realised strategic Net-Zero projects at NUTS 2 level and assess, in coordination with the Net-Zero Platform according to Art. 28 (4d), the establishment of their Net-Zero Academies in those regions.
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. The Commission and Member States may coordinate within the Platform on the Net-Zero Industrial Partnerships and also with relevant third countries to help promote the adoption of net-zero technologies globally and to support the role of Union industrial capabilities in paving the way for the global clean energy transition, in line with the overall objectives of this Regulation stemming from Article 1 of this Regulation. The Platform mayshall periodically discuss:
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
(ca) how to support Member States in improving the development of their regions at NUTS 2 level by assessing projects no longer considered as strategic Net-Zero projects according to Art. 11 (7) and Art. 35 (1a) in order to identify bottlenecks and challenges, build up more resilient and sustainable structures, and attract new projects to the area.
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1
1. The Platform shall be composed of Member States and of the Commission. It shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 8
Article 29 – paragraph 8
8. Where appropriateOn a regular basis, the Platform or the Commission may inviteshall invite representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions, social partners and civil society organisations, as well as experts and other third parties to Platform and sub- group meetings or to provide written contributions.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 6
Article 31 – paragraph 6
6. On the basis of the reports submitted pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article, the Commission shall monitor the Union’s progress referred to paragraph 1, point (a) and publish related reccommendations on an annual basis as part of the Annual Reports on Competitiveness of Clean Energy Technologies, pursuant to Article 35 (2), point (m) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1
Article 35 – paragraph 1
1. By…[3 years after the date of application of this Regulation], and every 3 years thereafter, the Commission shall evaluate this Regulation and present a report on the main findings to the European Parliament, the Council and, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the European Committee of the Regions.
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall, two years after the start of a Net-Zero strategic project, perform an ex-post evaluation, taking into account the fulfilment of social standards, CO2 emissions, environmental compatibility, and economic development. 20% of the weakest performing projects within the respective Member State at NUTS 2 level shall be no longer considered as strategic Net-Zero projects.