Activities of Herbert REUL related to 2008/2239(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Consequences of the recent gas crisis - Second Strategic Energy Review - Challenge of energy efficiency through information and communication technologies (debate)
Amendments (34)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas any European energy policy must pursue three main objectives in an integral and concomitant manner, namely security of supply and solidarity among Member States, limitation of climate change, and economic growth, sustainability and competition; whereas it is only by striking a balance among these three objectives that economic growth and at the same time efforts to combat climate change can be sustainably combined,
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the risks to the EU's security of supply are linked to the low level of investment, which, in all energy sectors and regions, is leading to capacities which are stretched or even inadequate, making it necessary in particular to renew electricity generating plant at an estimated investment cost of € 900 bn by 2030,
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reaffirms the threefold objective set for 2020 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, achieving energy savings of 20% and attaining a 20% share for renewables in primaryfinal energy consumption; calls on Member States to consider a reduction of 50 to 80% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on Member States, in the light of the growing risks which the EU is running in terms of energy security, to speak with a single voice; notes that their current practices are anything but geared to this aspiration; considers it imperative, in the interests both of solidaritecurity of supply and of the effectiveness of negotiations with a view to determining the international regulatory framework, for Member States tothe Commission to propose to the Council and the European Parliament drawing up a European energy policy in accordance with their competencwhich has due regard for the respective competences of the European Union and of the Member States: international relations, energy efficiency, combating climate change, regulationfurther development of the internal market, negotiation of international treaties, forward studies and dialogue with producers, and energy research;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that energy solidarity must become a major European concern and that damagingif a third country arbitrarily damages energy supply in a Member State, this is tantamount to damaging the supply of the EU as a whole;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that the division of tasks between undertakings and political decision-makers, whereby undertakings take responsibility for security of supply, is of proven value and should therefore in principle be preserved; calls on political decision-makers, in view of the increasingly difficult global environment, in future to adopt more accompanying measures for business operations;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the EU energy security and solidarity action plan in principle;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that the subject of solidarity with regard to energy supply requires more precise analysis in order to be able to respond quickly and appropriately to any shortfalls in supply; considers that, in this connection, in view of the multiplicity of possible causes of disruptions to supply, bilateral and regional solutions should take priority over European systems, in order to be able to respond quickly;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports the development of gas and electricity interconnections through Central and South-eastern Europe along a north- south axis, recalling that the networks in Northern Europe are inadequate and that these regions are isolated; calls therefore, by way of example, for gas to be supplied to Poland from Eastern Germanyshould be further developed and integrated; proposes therefore, by way of example, that progress should be made with the connection of Poland and, via Poland, also of the three Baltic States, to the Western European gas network;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Advocates, in view of the decline in domestic natural gas production and the change in the energy mix in many Member States, that all existing natural gas and electricity infrastructure projects which are currently planned be implemented rapidly in order to ensure that demand can still be met in future;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for optimislocations of LNG facilities to be coordinated to one another and to the network situation, particularly for regions of the EU which are isolated in energy terms; considers that new LNG terminals in countries which are major consumers and which are dependent exclusively on gas pipelines, such as Germany and the Baltic States, should be regarded as projects of European interest; should be regarded as projects of European interest on account of their key contribution to diversification of supply routes;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the importance of promoting CCS infrastructure for the European Union's climate policy, and calls on the Commission to review the role of the European Union in promoting the necessary pipeline infrastructure, including the incorporation of such pipelines in the TEN-E;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission and Member States to draw up strategic guidelines intended for lasting application, while leaving it to private industrial undertakings to implement them, striking a balance between market mechanisms and regulation; stresses the importance of finalising the negotiations on the legislative package on the internal energy market and calls on the Commission and Member States to set up an independent agency for cooperation between energy regulators, with strongthe necessary powers, including powers relating to technical, network- related security of supply;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that the completion of the market will be a success if it makes it possible ultimately to avoid volatility of energy prices and that Directive 2003/87/EC1, which is currently being revised, provides, in a comprehensible and predictable manner, an assessment of carbon dioxide costs; 1 OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32.o remove obstacles to investment;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that, even with the implementation of very ambitious and drastic energy efficiency and energy saving plans, the EU will still be dependent on third countries for supplies of fossil energy; calls, therefore, for dialogue with productransit and other consumer countries to be stepped up and, more generally, for enhanced international cooperation to increase transparency on world energy markets and tackle the issue of sustainable development;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Notes the importance of long-term supply contracts for the development of long-term trust-based relations between extracting and purchasing states and for securing the necessary investment in both upstream and downstream sectors;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Advocates an approach geared to conciliation in the dialogue with Russia, which supplies 42% of the EU's gas, as well as 100% of the gas imported by Poland, Finland and the Baltic States; notes that relations between the EU and Russia are based on interdependence and that, in the continuation of the negotiations, the EU should refrain from demanding ratification of the Energy Charter, while reminding the Russian authorities of their endorsement ofthat they should respect the principles of the Charter, especially as Russia endorsed these principles at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm; hopes, by way of example, that the Nabucco gas pipeline project will be carried out in cooperation with Russia in order to avoid competition between two gas pipelines and to be able ultimately to transmit gas from Russia, Iran or the Caspian Sea;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the Commission to analyse different ways in which the volatility of oil and gas prices can be reduced; notes in particular the role of transparency and sufficient spare production capacity as well as of the catalytic effect of financial speculation on price formation on the market; rejects the use of strategic oil stocks to reduce price fluctuations on economic grounds;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that, because of the high cost of strategic gas stocks, it is preferable to promote transparency of commercial stocks and diversification of connections; proposes, however, that Member States introduce emergency measures, such as strategic stocks of the order of 10% and/or contracts which can be interrupted as provided for in Council Directive 2004/67/EC1 of 26 April 2004 concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply, with each Member State freely choosing the measures appropriate to it, on grounds of subsidiarity: considers that, in so far as these measures prove inadequate, the multi-stage European procedure using the event of a crisis;Gas Coordination Group should be set in motion, as a fallback measure; 1 OJ L 127, 29.4.04, p. 92.
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Proposes that information technologies should be used better for total or partial cut-offs in the event of a crisis, and considers, for this purpose, that under the supervision of the regulator,each Member State should introduce a system capable of reducing national consumption in response to a collective decision could be introducedrisis;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for more efficient use of oil, particularly in the field of transport, which is the main sector in which this fuel is used; calls for the adoption of very ambitious medium-term objectives (for 2020) for vehicle consumption, while encouraging Member States to rethink their policies onseek alternative fuels and propulsion technologies, for example electric engines, for goods and individual passenger transport, particularly in urban areas;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Considers that renewable energies, such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass and marine resources, are the mostan important potential source of energy available to the EU, which can help to stabilise energy prices, and welcomes the initiative to submit a communication on eliminating obstacles to renewable energies;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to safeguard access to domestic supplies of fossil fuels under their physical planning and land use planning systems;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recalls that coal remains an element in the EU's supplies and an alternative to oil and gas; stresses, however, that the major disadvantage of coal lies in its very high rate of carbon dioxide emissionsboth lignite and coal continue to play a key role in the EU's supplies and security of supply, and are an alternative to oil and gas; stresses, however, that the major disadvantage of coal lies in the fact that its carbon dioxide emissions are high in comparison with other primary energy sources; stresses that CCS technology should therefore continue to receive support until it becomes commercially viable;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Recalls the significance of nuclear energy, which is produced in 15 out of 27 Member States and used in even more, and which meets around one-third of electricity demand in the European Union; also recalls the six new reactors currently under construction in four Member States;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31b. Recalls that the simultaneous generation of electricity and heat in combined heat and power plants is a particularly efficient way of producing energy, which thus also protects resources, and should continue to be supported at both Community and national level;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 c (new)
Paragraph 31 c (new)
31c. Acknowledges that admixing biomass for burning in modern coal-fired power stations is already achieving 45% efficiency, and that efficiency levels as high as 90% can be achieved using CHP; therefore calls on the Commission and the Member States to establish incentives for increasing the admixture of biogenic fuels in fossil-fuel-fired power stations;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Stresses the competitiveness of nuclear energy, which is largely unaffected by fuel price fluctuations owing to the small proportion of generating costs that the fuel, uranium, represents;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Stresses that nuclear energy is crucial for achieving the European Union's ambitious climate protection targets, and that nuclear energy makes a substantial contribution to holding down electricity costs and to security of supply;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Considers it essential to guaranfor the Member Statees to European citizensure that, in the EU, nuclear energy is used safely and transparently, particularly as regards the management of nuclear waste; in this connection fundamentally welcomes the Commission proposal for a legal framework for nuclear energy safety (COM(2008)0790);
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on the Commission and Member States to devise a European energy policy which will permit a massive conversion to low carbon emission energy technologies to meet the growing needs for energy consumption although there is a risk of a major crisis in the energy field; stresses that, while energy efficiency and energy saving remain a priority, as does the continued development of renewable energies, it will not be possible to overcome the energy resource deficit by 2030;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Calls on the Commission to refrain from measures which would reduce the European energy mix, since a broad energy mix provides an essential basis for energy security;