Activities of Lena EK related to 2010/2108(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011 - 2020 (debate)
Amendments (52)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 7 October 2010 on "Investing in the Development of Low Carbon Technologies (SET-Plan)" (COM (2009)519)) and having regard to its resolution of 11 March 2010 on investing in the development of low carbon technologies (SET-plan),
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas EU's energy policy should help realise EU's commitment to reduce green house gas emissions by 80-95 % by 2050,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas major energy investments are needed, notably in new power plants and grids within the next decade, which and whereas these investments will shape the energy mix for an even longer- period and whichit should be ensured they will sustain the transformation to a low-carbon economy; whereas this will require a new diversification of financing instruments,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that any future strategy should seek to fulfil the Lisbon Treaty objectives of a single energy market, security of supply, energy efficiency and savings and the promotion ofdevelopment of new and renewable forms of energy and the promotion of interconnected, integrated and interoperable energy networks and lead to a reduced reliance on energy imports and an increase in domestic renewable energy production;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that the Union needs a long term vision on energy policy, with the climate reduction objective to 2050 as the overreaching target, complemented by precise and comprehensive short term action plans to work towards these goals;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Urges the Member States to provide timely and completely to the Commission the information required under the Council Regulation 617/2010 on the notification of investment projects in energy infrastructure in order to have an overview of potential gaps in demand and supply as well as obstacles to investments, pending the judgment of the Court of Justice on the legality of the regulation which should have been adopted under the co-decision procedure as required by article 194 of the Treaty;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b
Paragraph 15 – point b
(b) set priority projects and set criteria to identify key investments for the development of the internal energy marketdiscuss criteria for key infrastructure investments and evaluate how the new structure from the 3rd internal market could be better at reflecting the long term political objectives;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point d
Paragraph 15 – point d
(d) if the analyses show that there are market failures that cannot be handled by the market alone, evaluate the need to extend financial support to the implementation phase of projects;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 15
New title after paragraph 15
Financing of energy policy
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that the new financial perspective should reflect the political priorities of the EU as outlined in the 2020 Strategy, which implies a significantly higher proportion of the budget to be allocated to energy policy, including infrastructure;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. In addition hereto encourages the Commission to focus funds from the Structural Fund for convergence regions on initiatives that support the EU's climate and energy policies;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Furthermore stresses the urgent need to phase out subsidy schemes in the EU harmful to the climate in order to reduce fossil fuels consumption and to contribute to more level competition as well as releasing funds for R&D and deployment of sustainable energy technologies;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Believes, as stressed by the Commission in the EU 2020 strategy, that the EU should shift the tax burden from taxation of labour to activities harmful to the environment; invites the Commission to consider minimum standards for taxation of emissions and higher minimum taxation of energy consumption; encourages the Commission to review the energy taxation directive in accordance herewith;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that innovative financial instruments (as for instance risk-sharing facilities and loan schemes by public banks) could be an important tool for supporting investments in the energy infrastructure and, energy efficiency and renewable energy research and deployment; calls, therefore, on the Commission to increasingly replace traditional loans by these schemes; strongly endorses the proposal to use the EU budget equity as loan guarantees to encourage private and PPP investments;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Related hereto stresses the need for a favourable market and regulatory framework incentivising the market to invest in a new and sustainable energy system; believes this implies both ambitious and binding goals for the market and providing security that investments pay off; in this regard highlights the continued need for a common EU patent;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. StressNotes that some Member States needwill use additional Union support for infrastructure which the markets alone can not provide, including the replacement of old power plants, electrical grids and supply networks;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that, based on the conclusions of the task-force on smart grids, the Commission should assure a favourable regulatory framework at EU level for smart grids, with EU-wide common standards for their development; supports pilot projects for the roll-out of smart metershich provides appropriate incentives for network operators to invest in operational efficiency, in order to aid the transition to a low carbon economy and thereby deliver the greatest value to European citizens; with EU-wide common standards for their development; supports pilot projects for the roll-out of smart meters as well as innovative communication, automation and grid control technologies, preferably under the SET-Plan initiative "smart cities";
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Asks the Commission to come forward with an impact assessment on the future of the world and EU gas market, including the impact of the already planned gas infrastructure projects (i.e. Nabucco), new LNG terminals, the impact of shale gas on the US gas market (notably on LNG import needs) and the impact of possible shale gas developments in the EU on future gas security of supply and prices before the end of the year;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Asks the Commission to come forward with an impact assessment, in light of the EU’s binding 2020 CO2 reduction targets, on the future of the world and EU gas market, including the impact of the already planned gas infrastructure projects (i.e. Nabucco), new LNG terminals, the impact of shale gas on the US gas market (notably on LNG import needs) and the impact of possible shale gas developments in the EU on future gas security of supply and prices before the end of the year;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Energy efficiency and energy savings should be a key priority of any future strategy, as it is a cost-effective solution for reducing EU energy dependency, contributing to job creation, combating climate change, counteract the increase of energy tariffs and progress towards a resource-efficient economy; notes the large variances in energy efficiency performance of the different Member States; therefore believes that the target should be implemented in a way that does not penalise countries which have already adopted significant efforts;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Asks the Commission to propose a strategy to increase efficiency on the heat market in order to support efficient local infrastructures such as district heating and cooling that allow the development of integrated solutions for heating, cooling and electricity based on combined heat and power and efficient use of renewable energy sources;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. In this regard highlights the long term cost-effectiveness of more energy efficient buildings and urges the Member States to use their national action plans under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to set ambitious performance standards for themselves;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Supports the introduction of further non-tax based market mechanisms to improve the energy efficiency as a way of stimulating the competitiveness of the EU economy;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Additionally believes that more focus should be placed on the energy performance of energy-consuming products; encourages the Commission to fully apply the scope of the eco-design directive to include more products and to apply a dynamic standard setting model ensuring ambitious and regularly updated targets;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Member States to agree on a common methodology for measuring national energy efficiency and savings targets and monitoring progress on achieving these targets; stresses that binding legal targets can only be included once a common methodology is agreed;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Highlights the various challenges the EU will face in delivering on its 20 % target for renewable energy and stresses that there are no single but a mix of solutions and technologies. Supports in this regard the SET-plan while stressing that technologies not included in the plan such as geothermal and wave power energy should also be further developed;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. On bioenergy particularly believes that Europe is falling behind its international partners in developing the full potential of this technology. Therefore strongly encourages the Commission to draft a cross-sectoral biomass policy that in partnership with Member States establishes a sustainable market for biomass from agriculture and forestry. The policy should include sustainability criteria that prevent a rise in production of biomass causing an increase in emissions from areas with high carbon content and a loss of biodiversity; calls on the Commission and Member States to step up their efforts towards supporting biofuels which don't lead to increased GHG emissions due to land use change, notably second generation biofuels; calls on the Commission to meet its commitment to come with an indirect land use change factor by the end of the year;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 27
New title after paragraph 27
Delivering on the 20 % renewable energy target
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Asks the Commission to present a communication on how to increase efficiency in the deployment of renewable sources of energy within the EU by striving towards a system of EU-wide common incentives for renewable sources of energy, which would allow to deploy the specific type of renewables in those parts of the EU, where they are most cost-efficient, and, thereby, lower electricity prices; believes that in the midterm, regional renewables market groups could be createdfurthermore that to ensure the effectiveness of deployment of renewable energy the grid connection conditions should be harmonised with a view to ensuring uniform profitable terms for renewable energy (e.g. payment of grid connection expenses through the tariff); believes that in the midterm, regional renewables market groups could be created, believes that the long term goal is for renewable energy to be a fully integrated part of an internal EU energy market;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Believes that the flexibility mechanisms of the renewable energy directive (statistical transfer of data for renewable energy production and joint projects) must be further developed with a view to ensuring the cheapest possible renewable energy expansion at EU level;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Encourages the Commission to investigate how to avoid inappropriate competition regarding renewable-energy subsidies and investments in renewable energy technology, including by coordinating and cooperating on renewable energy expansion in the Member States;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to analyse the respective national renewables energy action plans presented by Member States; asks the Commission to take action if needed to help certain Member States to improve their plans; asks the Commission to usend to use its full powers to ensure Member States live up to their legal obligation to fulfil their national target; highlights the cooperation mechanisms foreseen in the directive to helpenable those Member States which need itto reach their targets;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Believes that in coordination with the EEAS, the Commission should ensure that the Union speaks with one voice on energy; furthermore believes that the EU should use its new powers in external policy to actively identify and strengthen cooperation with third countries in the area of climate, environment, development and research policy;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Priority should in the short to medium term be given to strategic energy infrastructure development and also expand the relationship with central suppliers and transit countries; however the long term strategy to secure EU's energy supply should be through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Welcomes the return of Russia to the meetings of the Energy Charter Conference; calls on the Commission to work to extend the treaty to more countries and, in the forum of the Energy Charter Conference, to work towards a negotiated settlement leading to the full ratification of the Treaty and its protocols by Russia; however stresses that any agreement should fully comply with EU internal energy market rules; furthermore stresses that energy should be central to the Post- PCA agreement with Russia and that agreement should serve as the basis for individual Member State's relations with Russia;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Believes that the creation of EU minimum standards for licensing and design certification for new nuclear power plants would be useful with a view to ensure the highest possible safety of the technology for those Member States who have chosen it to be part of their energy mix;
Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Believes that some rural parts of Europe have particular needs when it comes to energy supply and in this regard invites the Member States to take these needs into view amongst other through removing the barriers, e.g. fiscal barriers, to local energy production such as micro- cogeneration;
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Believes that in the mid-term, conventional and unconventional sources of natural gas are the transitional phase towards a non-fossil fuel based economy natural gas is a necessary source of energy that allows for a quickest and eascost-efficiesnt way to lower carbon emissions before moving to a non-fossil fue; furthermore as natural bgased economy, therefore calls for SET initiatives on CCS to focus also on is an existing resource research and development funds should be targeted to making existing sources cleaner, e.g. gas burning power plants and other bio-fuels' emissions;
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Believes that the research and development in energy technology innovation should be a central priority of the new 8th Framework Programme for Research and Development and therefore there should be a significant increase in the resources allocated to these sub- programmes; therefore strongly urges the Member States and Commission to prioritise this policy area in the next budget and financial framework with a doubling of funds for research, development and demonstration projects in the energy area, including a vast increase in the EU’s future budget, particularly for renewable energy, smart grids and energy efficiency, up until 2020, compared with the current level; recalls in this context that the funding for the SET- plan should be equivalent of more than €1.5 billion a year according to the Commission's assessment;
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Welcomes the progress already made by the establishment of Joint Technology Initiatives in bringing industry, research and public institutions together generating added value for Europe; believes that the experience from the JTIs should be used to support the development of a “Silicon Valley for Energy” thus securing Europe's lead in sustainable energy sources;
Amendment 389 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Recalls that research in the field of energy should contribute not only to greenhouse gas reductions and security of supply enforcement, but also to improve the competitiveness of the European industry; in this regards, believes that engagement in standardisation with the EU strategic partners (such as China, Japan, India, Russia and the US) as regards new energy technologies, such as electric vehicles, are vital to ensure that European innovations are fully tradable on the international market; furthermore to ensure an efficient and fair transfer of technology encourages the EU and its international trade partners to work towards trade-opening initiatives for green technologies with a long term aim of zero tariff barriers on green technology;
Amendment 391 #
Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 48
New title after paragraph 48
Low-carbon transport and new technology
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Highlights the importance of including low-carbon transport in the new energy strategy and its related policy areas due to the interconnectedness hereof; reiterates that the road towards greener transport lies in exploiting the full potential of all the different technologies: more efficient fuel motors, alternative fuels such as sustainable biofuel and biogas, LPG and CNG, electric and hybrid cars, intelligent transport systems, extending and improving rail transport for goods and passengers by promoting interoperability and adopting common standards; calls for a better integration of the different modes of transport including the establishment of "green corridors" for transport throughout Europe;
Amendment 395 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 b (new)
Paragraph 48 b (new)
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 c (new)
Paragraph 48 c (new)
48c. In this regard urges the Commission and Member States to promote electric cars together with the development of “intelligent” electricity and storage systems, super and smart grids, and combined heat and power etc., for example via the action plan for promotion of green vehicles and establishment of overall regulatory frameworks;
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 d (new)
Paragraph 48 d (new)
48d. Highlights the crucial importance that this is a coordinated effort ensuring that electric cars can be driven and recharged throughout the EU, without any technical adjustments, e.g. through drafting international standardisation of plugs, data communication and batteries;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 e (new)
Paragraph 48 e (new)
48e. Encourages Member States to coordinate amongst themselves that no national special requirements can unnecessarily slow down new fuel technologies or make them more expensive;
Amendment 417 #
Motion for a resolution
New title after paragraph 51
New title after paragraph 51
Amendment 420 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51a. Reiterates that the new energy policy must support the long-term objective of reducing EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 and achieving independence from fossil fuels;
Amendment 425 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Paragraph 51 b (new)
51b. In this regard the Commission is encouraged to compile analyses aiming at long-term activities, including on the supply and demand, as well as the real risks and costs of supply failure compared with storage capacity, supply diversity and costs hereof. The analyses should also include long-term strategic and energy policy developments in the EU, and not least analyses of how the EU can avoid supply failure while at the same time, moving towards independence from fossil fuels;
Amendment 427 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 c (new)
Paragraph 51 c (new)
51c. To make the achievement of the long term goals easier and more cost-efficient the Commission and Member States are encouraged to seriously consider moving to the 30% CO2 reduction target for 2020 to ensure the ETS market will function as a catalyst for investments in cleaner production processes and cleaner energy sources;