68 Amendments of Michal WIEZIK related to 2020/0006(COD)
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The regulatory framework governing the Union’s cohesion policy for the period from 2021 to 2027, in the context of the next multi-annual financial framework, contributes to the fulfilment of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating Union funding on green objectives. This Regulation implements one of the priorities set out in the Communication on the European Green Deal (‘the European Green Deal’)11 and is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan12 providing dedicated financing under the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to address the economic and social costs of the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptions in particular by strengthened natural carbon sinks. _________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 23 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1 a) The EU long-term climate strategy considers scenarios for energy and climate action in the Union in which the forestry sector provides 60 to 65 Mtoe of wood for energy in total. As the Union already surpassed significantly the use of that finite resource for energy purposes, the material use of which millions of jobs depend on, JTF support should not be primarily considered for conversion coal- to-woody biomass. Burning of roundwood should be limited to an absolute minimum and no Union funds should be directed thereto.
Amendment 24 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1 b) A just transition should be adopted and implemented in line with "do no harm" principle of the European Green Deal and should not increase pressure on the world’s forests, including those in Europe. Investment should only be eligible if a biomass sustainability report and feasibility study confirms the availability of existing waste biomass streams to fuel the capacity of a relevant operation and without a negative impact on wood-working material industries, biodiversity, or the carbon sink of the land use, land use change or forestry sector.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair, scientifically underpinned and socially acceptable for all. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and social, environmental, social and true climate implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences. TSuch transition should follow the "do no harm" principle of the European Green Deal and support no-regret solutions. The conditionality of support by the Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 175 thereof, 192 (1), 194 (1) and 194 (2)
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3 a) Alternative energy generation technologies, such as wind and solar, are already cost-competitive with conventional generation technologies, and have zero fuel costs and zero variable operation and maintenance costs. A key factor regarding their long-term competitiveness is the ability of technological development and of the increased production volumes to substantially lower the capital costs, and the levelised cost of energy over time. Given the potential role of those technologies in providing skilled jobs and to empower consumer and energy communities, they will constitute the main scope of support. The impact on agricultural land should also be minimised.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3 b) The use of the limited natural resources should be future-proof, innovative, scientifically-underpinned and in line with the cascading use principle. Given also the limited financial resources, including the national budgets, the deployment of technologies, which after initial scaling up do not depend on subsidies to operate, should be sought by the funds to ensure the contribution of these resources to the Union's long-term ambition.
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a regulation
Citation 1
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 175 thereof, 192 (1), 194 (1) and 194 (2)
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. It should contribute to preserving natural heritage and prevent environmental degradation. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The regulatory framework governing the Union’s cohesion policy for the period from 2021 to 2027, in the context of the next multi-annual financial framework, contributes to the fulfilment of the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating Union funding on green objectives. This Regulation implements one of the priorities set out in the Communication on the European Green Deal (‘the European Green Deal’)11 and is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan12 providing dedicated financing under the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of cohesion policy to address the economic and social costs of the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptions in particular by strengthened natural carbon sinks. _________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate actions and should in no way go counter to objectives of the Union legislation on climate, in particular in the LULUCF sector, and the Union legislation on protection of environment, in particular Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ("the Water Framework Directive") and Directives 2009/147/EC and 92/43/EEC ("Nature Directives"). Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25% of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) The EU Long-Term Climate Strategy considers scenarios for our energy and climate action where in the EU the forest sector provides 60 to 65 Mtoe of wood for energy in total. As we already surpassed significantly the use of this finite resource for energy purposes, material use of which millions of jobs depend on, JTF support should not be primarily considered for conversion coal- to-woody biomass. Burning of roundwood must be limited to an absolute minimum and no EU funds shall be directed thereto.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) Just transition should be adopted and implemented in line with do no harm principle of the Green Deal and should not increase pressure on world’s, including European, forests. Investment shall only be eligible if a biomass sustainability report and feasibility study confirms availability of existing waste biomass streams to fuel the capacity of a respective operation and without negative impact on wood-working material industries, biodiversity, and carbon sink of the land use, land use change and forestry sector.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy constitutes one of the most important policy objectives for the Union. On 12 December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral Union by 2050, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. While fighting climate change and environmental degradation will benefit all in the long term and provides opportunities and challenges for all in the medium term, not all regions and Member States start their transition from the same point or have the same capacity to respond. Some are more advanced than others, whereas the transition entails a wider social and economic impact for those regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels - especially coal, lignite, Transition in regions with high energy production covered by fossil fuels should not succumb to speedy action by conversion to operations and oil shale - or greenhouse gas intensive industries. Such a situation not only creates the risk of a variable speed transition in the Union as regards climate action, but also of growing disparities between regions, detrimental to the objectives of social, economic and territorial cohesuse of technologies which can lead to environmental degradation, undermine circularity and cascading use. Technological know-how, no regret solutions and investments in energy savings and energy efficiency should be key in the transition.
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a climate-neutral, circular and resource-efficient economy is a challenge for all Member States. It will be particularly demanding for those Member States that rely heavily on fossil fuels or, greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities which need to be phased out or, those which so far counted mainly on woody biomass as renewable energy and which need to adapt due to the transition towards climate neutrality and that lack the financial means to do so. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States, but the distribution of its financial means should reflect the capacity of Member States to finance the necessary investments to cope with the transition towards climate neutrality.
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair, scientifically underpinned and socially acceptable for all. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and social, environmental, social and true climate implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences. TSuch transition should follow the do no harm principle of the European Green Deal and support no regret solutions. The conditionality of support by the Union budget has an important role in that regard.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Union. and environmental acquis of the Union, from which they should not derogate, and without generating environmental externalities .The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. The conversion to an operation or technology with comparable emission levels per unit of energy generated or with carbon parity payback period that is too long to deliver for the Union ambition for 2050 should not be an eligible investment. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013, while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy. _________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Alternative energy generation technologies, wind and solar, are already cost-competitive with conventional generation technologies, they have zero fuel cost and zero variable operation and maintenance cost. A key factor regarding their long-term competitiveness is the ability of technological development and increased production volumes to materially lower the capital costs, and their levelized cost of energy, over time. Given their potential role in provision of skilled jobs, consumer and energy communities empowerment, they will consist the main scope of support. Impact on land use should be minimized.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10 a) Transitioning can be a challenge due to sometimes diverging objectives. It can be the case for hydroenergy projects which can have a negative impact on the ecological status of water bodies, their connectivity, fish population and consequently on local communities and their livelihoods. The JTF should finance only no-regret and win-win solutions both for the environment and climate. Such solutions should be set out in the project description and, where applicable, be covered by the scope of a project.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3b) Use of the limited natural resources should be future-proof, innovative, scientifically-underpinned and in line with cascading use principle. Given also the limited financial resources, including the national budgets, deployment of technologies which after initial scaling up do not depend on subsidies to operate should be sought by the funds to ensure their contribution to our long-term ambition.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) which is one of the pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism implemented under cohesion policy. The aim of the JTF is to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment. It should contribute to preserving natural heritage and prevent environmental degradation. This is reflected in the JTF specific objective, which is established at the same level and listed together with the policy objectives set out in Article [4] of Regulation EU [new CPR].
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12 a) Inclusive policies and strategies are necessary to avoid exacerbating inequalities in a just transition process. The promotion of social cohesion should be a guiding principle for support under the JTF, promoting gender equality, ensuring vibrant rural areas, improved conditions for migrants, seasonal workers, young and older workers and low-skilled workers and ensuring no one is left behind.
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans. In order to invest in a no regret solution, any proposal for support for a wood-based biomass energy plant or a conversion thereto will include as an eligibility condition a feasibility study confirming existing and continuous availability of biomass waste and residues to fuel the proposed capacities, in order not to impact negatively on land use, land-use change and forestry carbon sink, or the supply of material wood- working industries. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In view of the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement, the commitment regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the increased ambition of the Union as proposed in the European Green Deal, the JTF should provide a key contribution to mainstream climate actions and should in no way go counter to objectives of the climate legislation, in particular in the LULUCF sector and environmental legislation, in particular the Water Framework Directive and Nature Directives. Resources from the JTF own envelope are additional and come on top of the investments needed to achieve the overall target of 25% of the Union budget expenditure contributing to climate objectives. Resources transferred from the ERDF and ESF+ will contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The territorial just transition plans should identify the territories most negatively affected, where JTF support should be concentrated and describe specific actions to be undertaken to reach a climate-neutral economy, notably as regards the conversion or closure of facilities involving fossil fuel production or other greenhouse gas intensive activities. Those territories should be precisely defined and correspond to NUTS level 3 regions or should be parts thereof. The plans should detail the challenges and needs of those territories and identify the type of operations needed in a manner that ensures the coherent development of climate-resilient economic activities that are also consistent with the transition to climate-neutrality and the objectives of the Green Deal. Conversion to an operation or a technology with comparable emission levels per unit of energy generated or payback period too long to deliver for the Union ambition for 2050 should not be an eligible investment. Only investments in accordance with the transition plans should receive financial support from the JTF. The territorial just transition plans should be part of the programmes (supported by the ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund or the JTF, as the case may be) which are approved by the Commission.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19 a) In accordance with the Green Deal commitment that all Union policies should contribute to preserving and restoring Europe’s natural resources, an exclusive list of ineligible types of operations is provided in this Regulation.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to territories facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050 in a way that does not compromise environmental objectives and which safeguards finite natural resources.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy. Investments made should be additional to those that would have been undertaken in the absence of the JTF.
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], the JTF shall contribute to the single specific objective ‘enabling regions and people to address the social, and economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economy’ while contributing to preserving Europe’s natural resources and preventing environmental degradation.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a climate-neutral, circular and resource-efficient economy is a challenge for all Member States. It will be particularly demanding for those Member States that rely heavily on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas intensive industrial activities which need to be phased out or, those which so far counted mainly on woody biomass as renewable energy and which need to adapt due to the transition towards climate neutrality and that lack the financial means to do so. The JTF should therefore cover all Member States, but the distribution of its financial means should reflect the capacity of Member States to finance the necessary investments to cope with the transition towards climate neutrality.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) This Regulation identifies types of investments for which expenditure may be supported by the JTF. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental priorities of the Unionand environmental aquis of the Union, from which they should not derogate, and without generating environmental externalities. The list of investments should include those that support local economies and are sustainable in the long- term, taking into account all the objectives of the Green Deal. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a climate-neutral, pollution-free and circular economy by 2050. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. Conversion to an operation or a technology with comparable emission levels per unit of energy generated or carbon parity payback period too long to deliver for the Union ambition for 2050 shall not be an eligible investment. As regards transforming sectors with high greenhouse gas emission levels, support should promote new activities through the deployment of new technologies, new processes or products, leading to significant emission reduction, in line with the EU 2030 climate objectives and EU climate neutrality by 205013 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be givenSupport should be channelled as well to conversion to sustainable land management, e.g. in peat sector. Particular attention should also be given to applying the polluter pays principle, the energy efficiency first principle and to activities enhancing innovation and research in advanced and sustainable technologies, as well as in the fields of digitalisation and connectivity, provided that such measures enhance the creation of green and sustainable jobs, help mitigate the negative side effects of a transition towards, and contribute to, a climate- neutral and circular economy. _________________ 13 As set out in “A Clean Planet for all European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy”, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - COM(2018) 773 final.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy; with a positive carbon balance in the short term, or a combination thereof;
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Transitioning can be a challenge due to sometimes diverging objectives. Such can be the case of hydroenergy projects which can have negative impact on the ecological status of water bodies, their connectivity, population of fish and consequently on our local communities and their livelihoods. And even then, climate effect of hydropower is very project-specific and lifecycle GHG emissions can reach those of fossil fuels1a. JTF should finance only no regret and win-win solutions both for environment and climate. Such shall be detailed in the project description where applicable based on the scope of a project. _________________ 1a Bruckner T., I.A. Bashmakov, Y. Mulugetta, H. Chum, A. de la Vega Navarro, J. Edmonds, A. Faaij, B. Fungtammasan, A. Garg, E. Hertwich, D. Honnery, D. Infield, M. Kainuma, S. Khennas, S. Kim, H. B. Nimir, K. Riahi, N. Strachan, R. Wiser, and X. Zhang, 2014: Energy Systems. In: Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Edenhofer, O., R. Pichs- Madruga, Y. Sokona, E. Farahani, S. Kadner, K. Seyboth, A. Adler, I. Baum, S. Brunner, P. Eickemeier, B. Kriemann, J. Savolainen, S. Schlömer, C. von Stechow, T. Zwickel and J.C. Minx (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing projects where regeneration of site was not a precondition for the permit provided to an operator in the case of mining operations;
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
(g) investments in enhancing the circular economy, including through waste prevention, reduction, resource efficiency, reuse, repair and recycling;
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possible to prepare a self- standing JTF programme or to programme JTF resources in one or more dedicated priorities within a programme supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’), the European Social Fund Plus (‘ESF+’) or the Cohesion Fund. In accordance with Article 21a of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], JTF resources should be reinforced with complementary funding from the ERDF and the ESF+. The respective amounts transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+ should be consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans and exclude types of operations ineligible for support as laid down in Article 5 of this Regulation.
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional on the effective and measurable implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans. In order to invest in a no regret solution, any proposal for support for a wood-based biomass energy plant or a conversion thereto will include as an eligibility condition a feasibility study confirming existing and continuous availability of biomass waste and residues to fuel the proposed capacities, in order not to impact negatively on land use, land use change and forestry carbon sink, or the supply of material wood- working industries. To this end, the Commission should set up a Just Transition Platform, which would build on the existing platform for coal regions in transition to enable bilateral and multilateral exchanges of experience on lessons learnt and best practices across all affected sectors.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Additionally, the JTF may support, in areas designated as assisted areas in accordance with points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) of the TFEU, productive investments in enterprises other than SMEs, provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (h) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan. Such investments shall not include conversion of coal-to-biomass plants.
Amendment 215 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
The JTF may also support investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (i) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan. Such investments shall not include conversion of coal-to-biomass plants.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The territorial just transition plans should identify the territories most negatively affected, where JTF support should be concentrated and describe specific actions to be undertaken to reach a climate-neutral economy, notably as regards the conversion or closure of facilities involving fossil fuel production or other greenhouse gas intensive activities. Those territories should be precisely defined and correspond to NUTS level 3 regions or should be parts thereof. The plans should detail the challenges and needs of those territories and identify the type of operations needed in a manner that ensures the coherent development of climate-resilient economic activities that are also consistent with the transition to climate-neutrality and the objectives of the Green Deal. Conversion to an operation or a technology with comparable emission levels per unit of energy generated or payback period too long to deliver for the Union ambition for 2050 should not be an eligible investment. Only investments in accordance with the transition plans should receive financial support from the JTF. The territorial just transition plans should be part of the programmes (supported by the ERDF, the ESF+, the Cohesion Fund or the JTF, as the case may be) which are approved by the Commission.
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) conversion of coal-to-biomass power plants;
Amendment 221 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
(a b) construction of biomass power plants;
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
(a c) the construction of a hydropower plant, unless such a plant would not, in accordance with an assessment pursuant to Article 4(7) of Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive) and Article 6(3) and (4) of Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive), have a negative impact on the site, or where the construction of a hydropower plant was envisaged either in an action or recovery plan for a protected aquatic species or would not go against such plan;
Amendment 233 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
By way of derogation from points (aa) and (ab) of paragraph 1, the project may be considered for support if all the following conditions are met: (a) the existing and continuous waste stream to match the proposed capacity is confirmed by a feasibility study and the environmental impact assessment report for the proposed investment; (b) the Member State has indicated the availability of waste and residues biomass in their National Energy and Climate Plan and in their input to the EU Bioenergy Sustainability Report; (c) the carbon parity payback time for the fuel is approximately 10 years;and (d) there is no existing operation at the level of NUTS 2 which operates on the same type of biomass as proposed by the operation in question.
Amendment 235 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 b (new)
No support shall be provided to projects the operation of which would count on burning virgin material, in line with the cascading use principle, or which will fail to prove the contrary in the feasibility report and in an impact assessment.
Amendment 239 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) In accordance with the Green Deal commitment that all EU policies should contribute to preserving and restoring Europe’s natural capital, an exclusive list of types of operations ineligible for support is provided in this Regulation.
Amendment 245 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes the Just Transition Fund (‘JTF’) to provide support to territories facing serious socio-economic challenges deriving from the transition process towards a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050 in a way that does not compromise environmental objectives and which safeguards finite natural resources.
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article [4(1)] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], the JTF shall contribute to the single specific objective ‘enabling regions and people to address the social, and economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economyimpacts of the transition towards attainment of ambitious EU targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction for 2030, and consistent with Commission Proposal [the EU Climate Law] while contributing to preserving Europe’s natural capital and preventing environmental degradation’.
Amendment 271 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Where the Commission concludes, based on the examination of the final performance report of the programme, that there is a failure to achieve at least 6590 % of the target established for one or more output or result indicators for the JTF resources, it may make financial corrections pursuant to Article [98] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] by reducing the support from the JTF to the priority concerned in proportion to the achievements.
Amendment 277 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall support the Investment for jobs and growth goal in all Member States in consistency with the EU objective to achieve climate-neutrality by 2050 at the latest while ensuring a Just Transition for all.
Amendment 312 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) productive and sustainable investments in SMEs, including start-ups, leading to decent and sustainable job creation, economic diversification and reconversion;
Amendment 349 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) investments in the deployment of technology and infrastructures for affordable clean energy, in greenhouse gas emission reduction, energy savings, energy efficiency and renewable energy with improved carbon balance in the short term, or their combination ;
Amendment 390 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f
(f) investments in regeneration and decontamination of sites, land restoration and repurposing projects where regeneration of the site was not a precondition for the permit provided to an operator;
Amendment 398 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new)
(f a) investments and knowledge transfer mainstreaming the transition to sustainable land management, in particular in peatland-rich regions
Amendment 402 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point f b (new)
(fb) restoration of degraded ecosystems and nature-based climate mitigation and adaptation projects;
Amendment 410 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g
(g) investments in enhancing the circular economy, including through waste prevention, reduction, resource efficiency, reuse, repair and recycling;
Amendment 446 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Additionally, the JTF may support, in areas designated as assisted areas in accordance with points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) of the TFEU, productive investments in enterprises other than SMEs, provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (h) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan. Such investments should not include construction of biomass power plants or conversion thereto.
Amendment 456 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
The JTF may also support investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council provided that such investments have been approved as part of the territorial just transition plan based on the information required under point (i) of Article 7(2). Such investments shall only be eligible where they are necessary for the implementation of the territorial just transition plan. Such investments should not include conversion of coal-to-biomass plants.
Amendment 465 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) conversion of coal-to-biomass power plants (wood- based fuel)
Amendment 466 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
(ab) construction of biomass power plants (wood-based fuel)
Amendment 467 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
(ac) construction of hydropower plant unless this would not, following the assessment pursuant to Art 4.7 of WFD and 6.3 and 6.4 of Nature Directive, have negative impact, or where this was envisaged in or would not go against a respective action or recovery plan for a protected aquatic species;
Amendment 468 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a d (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a d (new)
(ad) investments in bioenergy operations which count on burning also virgin material, or which fails to prove the contrary in the feasibility report and in an impact assessment;
Amendment 491 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) investment in residual waste treatment facilities;
Amendment 493 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
By way of derogation from aa) and ab) of the previous paragraph of this Article, the project might be considered for support if all the following conditions are met: a) existing and continuous waste stream to match the proposed capacity is confirmed by a feasibility study and environmental impact assessment report for the proposed investment b) Member State indicated the availability of waste and residues biomass in their National Energy and Climate Plan and in their input to the EU Bioenergy Sustainability Report c) the carbon parity payback time for the fuel is up to 10 years d) there is no existing operation at the level of NUTS 2 which operates on wood- based biomass
Amendment 526 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
For those Member States which have not yet adopted a Long Term Strategy setting a climate neutrality target at least or before 2050, the Commission shall release only 50% of their national allocation and make the remaining 50% available once they have adopted that target.
Amendment 558 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) a description of the transition process at national level towards a climate- neutral economy, including a timeline for key transition steps which are consistent with the latest versionobjectives of the National Energy and Climate Plan (‘NECP’) and with the EU Climate Law;
Amendment 617 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Where the Commission concludes, based on the examination of the final performance report of the programme, that there is a failure to achieve at least 6590% of the target established for one or more output or result indicators for the JTF resources, it may make financial corrections pursuant to Article [98] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR] by reducing the support from the JTF to the priority concerned in proportion to the achievements.
Amendment 625 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State and conduct stakeholder consultation in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.