Activities of Konrad SZYMAŃSKI related to 2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. Whereas the competitiveness of the European industry needs to be taken into account, by means of adequate policies and instruments and by adapting to a process that would re-industrialise our economy;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. Whereas it is in the interests of Member States to reduce their dependency of energy imports with volatile prices, and to diversify energy supplies;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

Ad. Whereas the challenge of energy security is to alleviate uncertainties that give rise to tensions between states and to reduce market inefficiencies that hamper the benefits of trade, both for suppliers and consumers;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that the EU's energy policy should not compromise the Union's competitiveness, nor should it allow for the risk of carbon leakage; calls, to that end, on the Commission to prepare initiatives in the event that global agreements on climate protection are not achieved and to come forward with an additional assessment giving suggestions for recommended actions that might prevent the risk of carbon leakage caused by reallocation of production outside the EU, especially assessing additional scenarios in the case of limited or no further global action on carbon emission reduction;

2012/10/18
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)

Ae. Whereas it is important to obtain an early indication of whether the challenging goals of the Roadmap can be achieved and to review the impact on the EU's economy including global competitiveness, employment and social security;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the benefits to Member States of working together for an energy system transformation which must start now; endorses, therefore, the Commission’s Energy Roadmap 2050 as the basis for proposing legislative and other initiatives on energy policy with a view to developing a policy framework for 2030, including milestones and targets; notes that defining energy targets for 2050 assumes pan-European governance; p~~ursues~~roposes the adoption, within the spirit of ~~the Union,~~solidarity, of a strategy that will allow Member States to cooperate and not feel repressed under the Roadmap; points out, in this context, a major flaw in the Action Plan, which does not include a separate impact study for each Member State;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for a greater solidarity among Member States and closer cooperation between the Council, the Commission and the EEAS so that they may speak and act jointly on issues concerning external energy policy.

2012/10/18
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights the importance of the EU’s energy policy amidst the financial crisis; emphasises the role that energy could potentially play in spurring growth and competitiveness in the EU; calls on the Commission to propose post-2020 strategies and to present a 2030 policy framework for European energy policy that takes account of the fact that significant investment in infrastructure is vital in the long term, even if no major changes are made to the energy mix; encourages the Member States to step up their ongoing efforts to reach the current 2020 targets in the area of EU energy policy;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – a (new)

3a. Notes that in order to make an informed and balanced decision regarding post 2020 strategies, a review of the existing 2020 strategies will be necessary;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that a clear policy and regulatory framework will stimulate the necessary investments for low-carbon energy investments; ~~Underlines~~draws attention, however, to the fact that the development of renewable energy sources, despite reducing energy dependence, does not necessarily compensate for the economic costs of transformation; underlines, therefore, the importance of an energy strategy focused on increasing the EU’s energy security and economic competitiveness through measures such as the diversification of supply routes and sources, and energy efficiency;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls that it is in the competence of each Member State to define its own energy mix; acknowledges that the Energy Roadmap 2050 complements national, regional and local efforts to modernise energy supply; acknowledges, therefore, the need for Member States to work together on the basis of common objectives, as well as the important role to be played by the EU; urges the Member States and the Commission to continue to pursue options which can meet the EU's decarbonisation objective in an technology- neutral, economically efficient, safe and sustainable way, and to continue with efforts to fully tap the potential for cost- effective energy savings, supported, inter alia, by available Union financial instruments; recognises, at the same time, the merits of developing a coordinated and, where appropriate, common European approach;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the conclusions reached in the Energy Roadmap that the transition of the energy sector on an EU-wide scale is technically and economically feasible, and could be less costly in the long-run than a continuation of current policies under certain assumptions; points out, however, that account should be taken of the national context, which may differ significantly between Member States;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Points out that adopting a decarbonisation strategy that does not take account of the situation of some Member States may lead to a massive increase in energy poverty, which is defined as a situation in which over 10% of household budgets is spent on energy;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises that a higher share of renewable energy beyond 2020 is a key aspect of a more sustainable energy system while stressing that renewables alone cannot pave the way to decarbonisation and must be combined with alternative sources of energy; recognises, furthermore, that all of the decarbonisation scenarios explored in the Commission communication assume an increased share of renewable energy in the EU energy mix of around 30% in gross final energy consumption in 2030;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Accordingly urges on more energy efficiency actions that would address the problem of energy poverty which is mainly focused on heat in the EUs societies. At the same time, calls for analysis and revision of national legislation that is an obstacle to energy efficiency investments/optimisation of heat production and use in some Member States (taxation, public procurement, heat pricing etc.);

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Emphasises the urgent need for new, smart and flexible infrastructure – in~~cluding~~ particular smart grids ~~and~~, smart meters, energy storage and CO2 infrastructure (including both CCS and CCU) – and fully integrated network planning in order, inter alia, to integrate local and more remote sources of renewable energy across the EU, as has been proven necessary; stresses, moreover, the urgent need for the establishment of mechanisms to allow for EU financing of infrastructure projects of common interest;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Vicky FORD, Konrad SZYMAŃSKI, Giles CHICHESTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses the need for immediate actions to ensure the continuity of energy supply, increase investor certainty and minimise bottlenecks; Delays not only will increase costs but will also delay the development of the necessary technologies;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Acknowledges that nuclear energy is currently used as an important low- emission energy source; calls on the Commission to work towards improved public acceptance of nuclear energy, utilising the results of the recent nuclear stress tests;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recalls the role of projects such as Desertec and the use of renewable energy sources in neighbouring regions; Highlights the prospect of 'Project Helios' in transporting electricity produced by renewable energy from South East Europe to Central Europe as well as further expansion of wind energy in the North Sea and other regions; Emphasises that the opportunity to import electricity produced from renewable sources from neighbouring regions needs to be complemented by encouraging and facilitating the development of renewable and low-emission sources of energy, e.g. in the Southern Mediterranean and in the North Sea region, and more interconnections within European networks;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Notes that some renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, can provide heat and power locally and continuously; is of the view that those local sources of energy increase energy independence, notably for isolated communities; underlines, therefore, the importance of supporting their development through R&D and innovative financial instruments;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that, as Member States pursue the goal of energy security and energy independence, emphasis needs to be shifted towards a model of energy interdependence by ensuring the swift completion of the EU internal energy market and the EU supergrid infrastructure linking North and South, and East and West; highlights the importance of ensuring that policy and regulatory developments in Member States will eliminate remaining infrastructure ‘bottlenecks’ and will not create new barriers to electricity and gas or energy market integration; stresses, moreover, that energy policy decisions in each national system need to take account of how such decisions could affect other Member States;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Konrad SZYMAŃSKI, Vicky FORD, Giles CHICHESTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Highlights the need to increase the incentives of investors in the energy market by increasing profitability and easing - without relaxing - the bureaucratic procedures;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights the new challenges, such as the need for flexible resources in the power system (e.g. flexible generation, storage, demand management), that will arise as the contribution of variable renewable generation increases; stresses the need to have sufficient capacity available to ensure security of electricity supply; believes therefore that increased interconnection is essential to help accommodate the expected huge increase in intermittent power generation from renewable sources; stresses, in this regard, that policy developments in Member States should not create new barriers to electricity- or gas- market integration;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Acknowledges that conventional fossil fuels are likely to remain part of the energy system at least during the transition to a low-carbon energy system;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Vicky FORD, Konrad SZYMAŃSKI, Giles CHICHESTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Recognises the key role of gas, both in the transition to a low-carbon energy system and as a flexible back-up, and in balancing capacity where renewable energy supplies are variable; Acknowledges that conventional fossil fuels are likely to remain part of the energy system at least during the transition to a low-carbon energy system;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Recognises the key role of gas, both in the transition to a low-carbon energy system and as a flexible back-up~~, and in~~ to provide balancing capacity ~~where~~that can contribute to accommodating intermittent renewable energy supplies ~~are variable~~;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Notes that optimal, safe and sustainable use of domestic energy resources, and the competitiveness of infrastructure necessary for the stable supply of domestic or imported energy, including refining, can contribute to increased energy security; Highlights as well the finding of the Energy Roadmap that oil is likely to remain in the energy mix even in 2050 and will mainly fuel parts of long distance passenger and freight transport;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Konrad SZYMAŃSKI, Vicky FORD, Giles CHICHESTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. While recognising that the EU operates in a global context and acting alone may not bring all the expected benefits, recalls the November 2011 TTE Council Conclusions on strengthening the external dimension of the EU energy policy, the need for a broader and more coordinated EU approach to international energy relations in order to meet global energy challenges and climate change, address competitiveness and carbon leakage related issues and maintain and promote the highest nuclear safety standards, while at the same time ensuring the safe, secure and diversified supply of energy;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Asks the Commission to come forward as soon as possible with an additional assessment giving suggestions for recommended actions that might prevent the risk of carbon leakage caused by reallocation of production outside the EU, especially assessing additional scenarios in the case of limited or no further global action on carbon emission reduction;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Recognises that the ETS is the principal – though not the only – instrument for reducing industrial emissions and promoting investment in low carbon technologies; notes that further improvement of the ETS is necessary; notes that any changes to the ETS would require a careful assessment of the impact on electricity prices and on the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries in each Member State; calls on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate the development of innovative technological solutions by European industries;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32a. Believes that energy infrastructure should become more end-user orientated, with a stronger focus on the interaction between distribution system capacities and consumption, and emphasises the need for real-time, two-directional power and information flows; points out the benefits for consumers of new technologies, such as demand-side energy management and demand-response systems, that improve energy efficiency of supply and demand;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Calls on the Commission to ensure that Horizon 2020 and the European Innovation Partnerships under the Innovation Union prioritise the need to develop all types of sustainable low carbon technologies in order to spur EU competitiveness, promote job opportunities and bring about a change in consumer behaviour; supports the goals of the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan and of the associated European Industrial Initiatives in this regard;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Stresses the importance of further research and development by the industry into the use of natural gas in the road, maritime and aviation sectors;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35a. Calls upon the Commission to gather the required data related to heat and heating as well as cooling, which are urgently needed to have a clear picture of the current situation - and, further, to build relevant scenarios for the future. The data should reflect sources and uses of heating and cooling, their energy-mix and the distribution of heating towards different final consumers (residential, industry, tertiary), with the share produced/distributed by District Heating;

2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE