40 Amendments of Pernille WEISS related to 2021/0213(CNS)
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Directive 2003/96/EC was adopted in order to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market as regards the taxation of energy products and electricity. Directive 2003/96 also integrated environmental protection requirements, in particular, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeParis Agreement from 2015.
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Environmental taxation can be a cost-effective mean for Member States to achieve the targetedimprovements in environmental footprint and contribute to the reductions of greenhouse gasse emissions. The proper functioning of the internal market requires common rules on that taxation.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Member States should, however, be able to use the energy taxation of motor fuels, heating fuels and electricity for a variety of purposes not necessarily nor specifically or exclusively related to the reduction of environmental footprint and contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gase emissions.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) The Council needs to examine the exemptions and reductions and the minimum levels of taxation periodically, taking into consideration the proper functioning of the internal market, the real value of the minimum levels of taxation, the competitiveness of Union businesses in the international framework and the wider objectives of the Treaty.
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In the interest of fiscal neutrality, the same minimum levels of taxation should apply for each component of energy taxation, to all energy products put to a given use. Where equal minimum levels of taxation are thus set, Member States should, also for reason of fiscal neutrality, ensure equal levels of national taxation on all products concerned.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Member States should be given the flexibility necessary to define and implement policies appropriate to their national circumstances.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The possibility of applying differentiated national rates of taxation to the same product should be allowed in certain circumstances or permanent conditions, provided that Union minimum levels of taxation and internal market and competition rules are respected.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Energy products used as a motor fuel for certain industrial and commercial purposes and those used as heating fuel are normally taxed at lower levels than those applicable to energy products used as a propellant. Electricity should always be among the least taxed energy sources in view of fostering its use, notably in the transport sector. To that purpose, Member States should endeavour to apply the same level of taxation to electricity used to charge electric vehicles as for heating purposes during the necessary time following the entry into force of this Directive.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Energy products should essentially be subject to a Union framework when used as heating fuel or motor fuel. To that extent, it is in the nature and the logic of the tax system to exclude from the scope of the framework dual uses and non-fuel uses of energy products as well as mineralogical processes. Electricity used in similar ways should be treated on an equal footing.
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The Union and the Member States have concluded multilateral agreements regarding air services and air transport, or bilateral agreements with third countries. Those agreements include provisions related to the taxation of aviation fuel. Aviation fuel has traditionally had a privileged tax regime. The need to pursue the objecThe exemption for the fuel used by cargo flights is needed in the absence of more efficient alternatives. Existing international obligations as well as the preservation of the competitiveness of the Directive requires that, without prejudice to those international agreements, energy products and electricity supplied for intra-EU air ncompanies in the Union imply that it is advisable to maintain existing benefits for energy products used in avigation, except cargo-only flights should be taxed. The exemption for the fuel used by cargo-only flights is still needed in the absence of more efficient alternativesfor private non-commercial purposes. However, Member States should have the possibility to limit these benefits in the future.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) In order to ensure a smooth implementation of this Directive, the minimum levels of taxation for motor fuels used for intra-EU non-business and non- pleasure flights would be reached over a transitional period of ten years, whereas sustainable alternative fuels and electricity would be subject to a zero minimum rate for ten years, starting four years after the Directive enters into force. Energy products and electricity used for intra-EU business aviation and pleasure flights should be subject to the standard levels of taxation applicable to motor fuels and electricity in the Member States.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Fuel used for waterborne navigation, inexcluding fishing, should also be taxed at minimum levels, and the Member States party to international agreements providing for the exemption of that fuel, have to, by the date of the application of this Directive, ensure they eliminate the incompatibilities. It is necessary to allow for a different level of taxation to be applied to the use of energy products and electricity for intra-EU waterborne regular service navigation, fishing and freight transport and their respective at berth activities. Considering the specificity of those uses, the minimum levels of taxation should be lower than the ones applicable to general motor fuel use. In order to provide an incentive to the use of sustainable alternative fuels and electricity, such fuels and electricity should be exempted from taxation for ten years starting four years after the Directive enters into force. Energy products and electricity used for the remaining intra-EU waterborne navigation should be subject to the standard levels of taxation applicable to motor fuels and electricity in the Member States.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) The Commission should ensure that its proposals are fully assessed in terms of their economic, social and environmental costs and benefits and their implications for competitiveness, connectivity, employment and economic growth, particularly for sectors most exposed to international competition. Member States are encouraged to cooperate for sharing information and data of the energy taxation to the Commission in order to ensure high quality assessments.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23 b (new)
Recital 23 b (new)
(23b) The EU should consider measures that without having an immediate impact on the current situation, will strengthen preparedness for possible future price shocks, increase market integration and resilience, empower consumers, enhance access to affordable energy and reduce the dependence on volatile fossil fuels.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23 c (new)
Recital 23 c (new)
(23c) In order to ensure smooth implementation of this Directive and to tackle the shocks of the increased current prices, the EU should continue to develop measures to facilitate an energy system with high shares of renewable energies, including through adequate storage, cross-border interconnectors, base-load and flexible power generation, thus offsetting possible temporary supply shortages or surpluses.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) In particular, highly efficient combined heat and power generation and, in order to promote the use of alternative energy sources, renewable forms of energy, base-load and flexible power generation may qualify for preferential treatment.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26 a (new)
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) It is desirable to establish a Union framework to allow Member States to exempt or reduce excise duties so as to promote biofuels, thereby contributing to the better functioning of the internal market and affording Member States and economic operators a sufficient degree of legal certainty. Distortions of competition should be limited and the incentive of a reduction in the basic costs for producers and distributors of biofuels should be maintained through, inter alia, the adjustments by Member States taking into account changes in raw material prices.
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Targeted reductions in the tax level may prove necessary to tackle the social impact of energy taxes. An exemption from taxation may temporarily prove necessary to protect vulnerable households.
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) The list of energy products subject to the control and movement provisions of Council Directive 2008/118/EC33 should include selected energy products, in order to ensure a unified and standardised treatment of those products and to take into account the risk of tax evasion, or tax avoidance or abuse. __________________ 33Council Directive 2008/118/EC of 16 December 2008 concerning the general arrangements for excise duty and repealing Directive 92/12/EEC (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 12).
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) Reference should be made to the version presently applicable of the Combined Nomenclature. In order to ensure that the references to Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes in this Directive are updated whenever necessary, and that the minimum rates of taxation reflect prices evolution, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of updating the reference to those CN codes, and in respect of updating the minimum tax rates based on yearly variations of the consumer price index. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the Council receives all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Every five years and for the first time five years after the entry into force of this Directive, the Commission should report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Directive, examining in particular the minimum levels of taxation, the impact and market accessibility of innovation and technological developments, especially as regards energy efficiency, the use ofmarket accessibility and use of renewable fuels and electricity in transport and the justification for the exemptions, reductions and differentiations laid down in this Directive. The report should take into account the proper functioning of the internal market, environmental and social considerations, the real value of the minimum levels of taxation and the wider relevant objectives of the Treaties.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) the sustainability and greenhouse gasenvironmental performance saving criteria set out in Article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, excluding high indirect land- use change-risk products set out in Article 26(2) of that Directive;
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) as soon as sustainability criteria are established for biomass products other than biofuels and bioliquids pursuant to Directive 2009/28/EC, an exemption or a reduced rate may be applied to those products only if they comply with those sustainability criteria.
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 3 a (new)
– mineralogical processes, which shall mean the processes classified in the NACE nomenclature under code 23 'manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products' in Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006 on the statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community;
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Without prejudice to Article 5(2), when a transitional period is applicable as provided for in Table A of Annex I, the gradual increase in the minimum levels of taxation shall be fixed at one tenth per year until 1 January 2033. For low-carbon fuels, the minimum level of taxation set for the first year of the transitional period shall apply until 1 January 2033.
Amendment 209 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Without prejudice to Article 5(2), when a transitional period is applicable as provided for in Table B of Annex I, the gradual increase in the minimum levels of taxation shall be fixed at one tenth per year until 1 January 2033. For low-carbon fuels, the minimum level of taxation set for the first year of the transitional period shall apply until 1 January 2033.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Without prejudice to Article 5(2), when a transitional period is applicable as provided for in Table C of Annex I, the gradual increase in the minimum levels of taxation shall be fixed at one tenth per year until 1 January 2033. For low-carbon fuels, the minimum level of taxation set for the first year of the transitional period shall apply until 1 January 2033.
Amendment 234 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
By derogation from the first subparagraph of this paragraph, Member states may apply the same level of taxation laid down in paragraph 1 to cargo-only domestic flights referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph.
Amendment 235 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Where a Member State has entered into an agreement with one or several Member States, it may also apply the same level of taxation laid down in paragraph 1 to intra- EU air navigation of cargo-only flights mentioned in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 236 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 4
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 4
For the purposes of this paragraph, ‘cargo- only flight’ shall mean a scheduled or non- scheduled air service performed by aircraft carrying revenue loads other than revenue passengers, excluding flights carrying one or more revenue passengers and flights listed in published timetables as open to passengers.
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Member States mayshall apply under fiscal control total or partial exemptions to electricity supplied to stationary aircrafts.
Amendment 249 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 274 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 5 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 5 a (new)
– generated from low carbon sources.
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point c – subparagraph 3
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point c – subparagraph 3
For the purposes of point (c), energy products and electricity used by households recognised as vulnerable may be exempt for a maximum period of ten years after the entry into force of this Directive. For the purposes of this paragraph, ‘vulnerable households’ shall mean households significantly affected by the impacts of this Directive which, for the purpose of this Directive, means that they are below the ‘at risk of poverty’” threshold, defined as 60% of the national median equivalised disposable incomein energy and transport poverty or households who face or are at risk of facing a situation of significantly limited access to employment, including self-employment, and/or to education and training, and/or to a decent standard of living and essential services, implying low capacities to adapt to the consequences of the green transition and are significantly affected by the price impacts of the inclusion of buildings and road transport into the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC and the recast of Directive 2003/96/EC.
Amendment 322 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. If a Member State finds that energy products other than those referred to in paragraph 1 are intended for use, offered for sale or used as heating fuel, motor fuel or are otherwise giving rise to tax evasion, or tax avoidance or abuse, it shall advise the Commission forthwith. This provision shall also apply for electricity. The Commission shall transmit the communication to the other Member States within one month of receipt. Within two months of that communication, the Member States shall communicate to the Commission their views regarding the detected practice of tax evasion, or tax avoidance or abuse concerning those energy products and electricity. Based on the views received form the Member States, and in case there is a risk for the proper functioning of the internal market or for the environment, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts to determine that the control and movement provisions of Directive 2008/118/EC are to apply to the products concerned. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 28(2).
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 1
Article 31 – paragraph 1
Every five years and for the first time five years after 1 January 2023, the Commission shall perform a review of this Directive and submit to the Council a report on the application of this Directive, and, if needed, propose a new legislative act.
Amendment 349 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 2
Article 31 – paragraph 2
The report by the Commission shall, inter alia, examine the minimum levels of taxation, the impact and market accessibility of innovation and technological developments, in particular as regards energy efficiency, the use ofmarket accessibility and the use of renewable fuels and electricity in transport and the justification for the exemptions, reductions and differentiations laid down in this Directive. The report shall take into account the proper functioning of the internal market, environmental and social considerations, the real value of the minimum levels of taxation and the relevant wider objectives of the Treaties.