Activities of Fiona HALL related to 2013/2135(INI)
Plenary speeches (3)
A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies (debate)
A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies (debate)
A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies PDF (377 KB) DOC (227 KB)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies
Amendments (71)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges the historical responsibility of the EU and other major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters vis-à-vis developing countries, which are the prime victims of climate change; points to the need for renewed EU leadership in international climate negotiations and reinvigoration of the EU’sin order to reach an ambitious binding agreement at the UNFCCC in Paris in 2015, based on a process of equitable effort-sharing; emphasizes that in order to be credible in this leadership role and encourage all other countries to come forward with emission reduction pledges, the EU must first reinvigorate efforts to bring down its own emissions, aiming at the higher end of its 80-95 % GHG emission reduction target for 2050;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member States to adopt three binding targets for 2030: at least 50 % reduction in GHG emissions, a below 1990 levels, at least 40 % share of renewable energy and at least 30 % increase in energy efficiency; recalls that both energy efficiency and the deployment of renewables reduce GHG emissions and therefore facilitate the achievement of an EU GHG target of at least 50%;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that some biofuels are failing to live up to expectations as regards GHG emission reductions, dcan contribute to the rivse upin food prices by competing for land and may threaten access to vital resources, including land and water, of local and indigenous communities in developing countries; takes the view that no biofuel targets or subsidies should exist after 2020 for land- based biofuels and calls for effective measures to prevent harmful social and environmental impacts of biomass production for European markets;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the EU’s commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to support the efforts of developing countries, especially the least developed countries, to mitigate climate change and to enhance resilience through capacity building, technology transfer and contributions to the Green Climate Fund which must become fully operational as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for greater efforts by the Member States to help fulfil the commitment made by developed countries to provide USD 100 billion per year in climate financing, additional to commitments to pay 0.7% of GNI as Official Development Assistance, by 2020;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the need for an expanded, better-functioning Emissions Trading System which provides effective incentives for GHG emission reductions and raises climate finance.sets aside a percentage of auctioning revenues as climate finance for a fully operational Green Climate Fund; recalls that international offsets have significantly contributed to the over-supply in the Emissions Trading Scheme and that research shows that a large number of offsets do not represent real emissions reductions; stresses that the EU's GHG reduction effort must not include international offsets post-2020;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes that a recent report by the Environmental Energy Agency found that between 1990 and 2012 the EU reduced its emissions by 18%, close to the target of 20% emissions reductions by 2020; calls therefore on European leaders to increase the current 2020 climate target to 30%, to avoid a lack of action during the period up to 2020;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the European Environment Agency has estimated the minimum cost of not adapting to climate change to range from €100 billion a year in 2020 to €250 billion in 2050 for the EU as a whole;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Eurostat figures show that the EU has reduced its CO2 emissions by 16.97% between 1990 and 2011 and is on track to achieve its 2020 target in this regard; whereas more ambitious CO2 emissions reductions are necessary for the EU to stay on track for meeting its 2050 climate goals;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas research by the European Environment Agency indicates that the EU is currently on track towards meeting its binding target of 20% RES consumption in 2020, but seems to fall short of achieving the non-binding 20% energy efficiency target;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the IEA estimates tha, whilst the EU is responsible for only 11 % of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the proportion is set to decrease in the future soccording to the IEA estimates, the European Single Market has the largest GDP of any economy in the world and significant diplomatic capacity; thatus, even if it has limited capacity in lowering global emissions by means of unilateral actions, it has a significant role to play in particular; as regards the achievement ofleveraging climate action from other economies, and particularly in the context of achieving a binding agreement in Paris in 2015 w; thereasfore, the EU therefore has to define a clear and ambitious position;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas investors and industries need a clear and long-term framework for EU climate and energy policy with greater levels of certainty in order to encourage and reduce the risk of private long-term private investments and reduce the risk associated with thisbenefit from opportunities on the global low-carbon and environmental business market;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas due to the limited availability of domestic resources an ambitious European transition towards renewable energy is the only way to guarantee a secure energy supply at affordable prices in the future;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the EU spent EUR 573 billion on imported fossil fuels in 2011 and its dependency on energy imports is expected to grow; whereas improving energy efficiency is the most cost-efficient way to reduce Europe’s energy dependency while at the same time cushioning industry and households from rising energy bills; recalls that improving energy efficiency is the only structural approach to tackling fuel poverty;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. recalls the 2013 Energy Efficiency Market Report by the International Energy Agency that recognises energy efficiency as the ‘First Fuel’, and highlights its significant role as a supply side energy resource that is key to enhancing energy security;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas Europe is currently a global leader in renewable energy technology with around half a million jobs already created in this sector; whereas higher shares of renewables will result in longer term sustainable growth and increased energy security;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas studies indicate that upgrading and developing the grids is the best way to improve the internal market, reduce energy costs and boost the competitiveness of industry;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Asks the Commission to takeimplement a multi-faceted approach, the efficiency andat is based on mutually reinforcing policies on energy efficiency, renewables and GHG emissions reduction, whose cost- effectiveness of which ought toshould be enhanced by coordinated and coherent policies, that shall address in equal measure issues such as competitiveness, energy security and climate objectives (e.g. GHG emission reduction, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency);
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to set an EU-wide GHG target of least 50% by 2030 below 1990 levels accompanied by clear objectives for renewable energy and energy efficiency; highlights that this level of ambition is in line with the EU long-term GHG target of 80-95% and will allow the Union to continue to lead the global climate change diplomacy;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Points out that all sectors of the economy will need to contribute to reducing GHG emissions if the EU is to deliver its fair share of global efforts; believes an early agreement on the climate and energy framework for 2030 is necessary in order for the EU to prepare itself for international negotiations on a new legally binding international agreement, but also to provide Member States, industry and other sectors with a clear legally-binding framework and targets to make the medium and long- term investments needed in emission reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the European Council to keep up the progress made at EU level and set ambitious but realistic objectives for the 2030 EU policieand binding EU-wide 2030 targets for energy efficiency, renewables and GHG emissions that take account of the economic, social, environmental, international and technological contexts, and to establish a clear, stable, long-term and cost-effective framework for industries and investors;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights that the EU's 2050 decarbonisation goal will only be met if there is a transition away from fossil fuels and that policies which might lock those in must therefore be avoided; recalls that ambitious and long-term energy efficiency and renewable energy policies will help avoid such a lock-in; in this respect stresses the recent findings of the International Energy Agency that renewable energy policies are cheaper in the long-term than relying solely on carbon pricing because they incentivise the timely scale-up of the broad portfolio of renewable technologies needed to decarbonise the power sector completely in the long term;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Points out that the binding 2020 target for RES has made the EU a front runner in RES technology innovation; highlights that the continuation of this policy with binding RES targets will further strengthen the position of the EU in this field;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Highlights the need for the EU to reduce its dependency on imported fossil fuels and decarbonise its power sector completely in the long run as well as ensuring energy generation at an affordable price; underlines the central role renewables will have to play in order to achieve these objectives;
Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is of the opinion that support schemes, if better used, could be andesigned effectively and with sufficient flexibility, can be ap propriater tool to incentivise the development and deployment of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency; sees an important role for the Commission in providing guidance in this regard;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that some RES, should now be considered mature energy sources and their subsidies should therefore be phased out on uch as onshore wind and solar photovoltaics, are close to being cost-competitive with conventional energy sources, but that the phasing-out of support mechanisms requires reformed energy market design, streamlined national administratimve order to be able to reallocaand grid connection procedures, stable policies and better these to research and development (ransparency in energy markets; stresses that ambitious long-term RES targets, as well as R&D) programmes, and RES that are not yet cost-effective; asks the Commission to study the impact of RES priority dispatch on general energy costsre necessary to drive costs down for all renewable technologies and to enhance innovation, development and, crucially, deployment of newer and less mature technologies as cost reduction and increased market uptake of those technologies is necessary for the long- term cost-effective decarbonisation of the EU power system;
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to agree without delay on an ambitious 2030 EU-wide renewables target, shared between countries in an equitable way based on their national potential; such a target is the best means to enable cost reduction of RES technologies, provide long-term investment certainty and reduce the cost of capital and risk premium for industry;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that increased energy efficiency and energy savings will play an essential role in the decarbonisation of the energy sector; recalls that the efficient use of energy is key to economic productivity and therefore crucial for Europe's economic efficiency and competitiveness; highlights that energy efficiency and savings measures have the potential to reduce significantly Europe's reliance on imported fossil fuels and hence its trade deficit; upholds that cuts in energy consumption through energy efficiency measures result in GHG reduction and increased energy efficiency therefore allows to achieve a higher GHG reduction target at no extra cost;
Amendment 423 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Emphasises that a single GHG target delivered mainly through the ETS mechanism will fail to tackle large energy efficiency potential in the non-ETS sectors while resulting in much of the 2030 decarbonisation effort being made through the ETS sectors at a higher cost than necessary; notes that many of the barriers to the delivery of energy efficiency improvements are non- financial in nature and cannot be tackled by the ETS within a single GHG target approach;
Amendment 433 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Notes that the EU needs a comprehensive policy framework for 2030 that encourages investments and long term decarbonisation in non-ETS sectors which are responsible for 60% of EU GHG emissions; stresses that the non- ETS sectors can actually ease the decarbonisation effort needed elsewhere in the EU economy while at the same time allowing the setting of a more ambitious GHG target at no extra cost; calls on the Commission and the Member States to set a non-ETS energy efficiency objective alongside a GHG target; notes that this would not interfere with the ETS cap and would ensure that the built environment (residential and commercial buildings) and transport sectors do more of the heavy-lifting on GHG reduction;
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Stresses that the EU's long-term energy-efficiency policy should take the reduction of energy use in buildings as a central element, given that renovation of existing buildings represents enormous cost-effective energy saving potential; stresses that the current rate and quality of building renovation needs to be substantially scaled up in order to allow the EU to significantly reduce the energy consumption of the existing building stock by 80 %, relative to 2010 levels, by 2050;
Amendment 435 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6 e. Notes that a sectoral energy efficiency target for buildings would drive the needed transformation of the building stock, ultimately ensuring that the huge energy resource that it represents is tapped. Acknowledges that most of the barriers in this field are legal, administrative and financial ones, and are not technological, and that market transformation takes time and will highly depend on long term goals accompanied by intermediate targets for 2020, 2030 and 2040 in order to bring the entire building stock to a nearly zero energy level of consumption by 2050;
Amendment 446 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Asks the Commission to develop better methods and tools for calculating and monitoring progress which could help to draw up a more consistent EU approach to energy efficiency; believes that more should be done to help EU industries to further reduce their energy intensity, in particular via self-generation of heat and power;
Amendment 470 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that as one of the cornerstones of the EU’'s climate and energy package, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) should be able to best fulfil one of its main functions, the reduction of GHG emissions, and respond efficiently to economic downturns and upturfluctuations; rRecalls that the main objectives of the EU ETS isare to reduce GHG emissions and not to provide investors with sufficient incentives to invest in low-carbon technologies, as these should be seen merely as a secondary objective and not as a basis for evaluating if the scheme works as intended; points out that a significant surplus of allowances within the EU ETS is leading to a much lower carbon price than originally expected; calls for an urgent structural reform of the ETS, to be completed in 2014, to deal with the current oversupply of allowances and the mechanism's inflexibility;
Amendment 480 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Reminds the Commission that the Parliament has already called for legislation to be proposed at the earliest appropriate date to modify the 1.74 % annual linear reduction requirement so as to meet the requirements of the 2050 CO2 reduction target;
Amendment 489 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 530 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Asks Member States for better cooperation and inteexchange of best practionce at EU level in order to make national measures more consistent;
Amendment 537 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls that a clear, coherent and consistent policy and regulatory framework is key to helping stimulate the necessary investments in the ‘no regrets’ technologies defined in the Energy Roadmap 2050 in a cost-effective and sustainable way; points to the research-based evidence from Fraunhofer ISI that realising Europe's overall cost-effective energy savings potential (40%) will deliver GHG emission reductions of at least 50% by 2030 and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix to 35%;
Amendment 545 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Stresses that the most coherent approach post-2020 is where an EU-wide 2030 GHG target is set while taking into account the emissions reductions resulting from the EU 2030 objectives for energy efficiency and renewable energy; notes that a so-called "package approach" of energy efficiency, renewable energy and GHG targets, defined in line with existing cost-effective potential, would enable the EU to meet its competitiveness, energy security and decarbonisation goals with a lower CO2 price and smaller burden on industry than a GHG only target;
Amendment 554 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Asks the Commission to examine the interactions between climate and energy objectives in order to achieve the most efficient policies at EU level, taking into consideration not only national GDP but also each Member State’s capacity; recalls that energy efficiency improvements in such areas as buildings and transport result in significant GHG savings on the non-ETS side and can therefore reduce, in the case of an overall EU-wide GHG target, the burden of emissions reduction required through the EU ETS, thus lowering decarbonisation costs for energy intensive industry;
Amendment 573 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that Member States and regions should be encouraged to improve cooperation in order to optimise the efficiency of renewables expansion; highlights that regional integration has a huge role to play in deploying RES cost- effectively; in this context, the Commission has an important role to play as a facilitator in coordinating, financially supporting and preparing appropriate analyses of renewable energy resources and their sustainable potential for the Member States;
Amendment 588 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to submit an analysis of how renewableUnderlines the need to continuously analyse how different energy sources can be developed sustainably, taking into account environmental impact, aspects related to dependency on raw materials and life cycle and, above all, how to support stable sources of renewable energy such as hydropower, biomass or geothermal powertheir resource efficient use, and life cycle aspects;
Amendment 596 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. UHighlights the important role of resource efficiency in achieving the EU's climate and energy objectives; urges the Commission and the Member States to integrate the resource efficiency agenda as comprehensively as possible into all other policiesobjectives in other key policy areas and exchange best practice;
Amendment 604 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 615 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Underlines the importance of local and regional climate and energy initiatives, as they can significantly contribute to national mitigation efforts and contribute to the further development of decentralised energy generation; encourages the Commission and Member States to remove any obstacles that hamper local and regional authorities delivering on the EU climate and energy objectives and to ensure there is an adequate financial framework in place;
Amendment 630 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the importance of an energy strategy focused on boosting energy security and economic and industrial competitiveness in the EU, job creation, social aspects and environmental sustainability by means of measures such as increased energy efficiency and savings, the diversification of supply routes, suppliers and sources, the creation of a truly interconnected European energy market and by increasing the deployment of RES;
Amendment 649 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that, when bringing about security of supply, Member States must be able to take advantage of all of their indigenous energy resources in accordance with policies that ensure the safe and sustainable exploration, extraction and use of these resources provided they are compatible with Europe's long-term climate change goals;
Amendment 663 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that as the EU pursues its goal of energy security, emphasis needs to be shifted towards a model of energy interdependence between Member States by ensuring the swift completion of the EU internal energy market; believes furthermore that completing the EU supergrid infrastructure linking the north, south, east and west will enable the EU to make the best use of the comparative advantages of each Member State, and; highlights the big offshore wind potential of the North Sea; emphasises the importance of the North Sea offshore grid to enable a cost-effective deployment of renewables in the North Sea; acknowledges in this regard the importance of the North Sea Countries' Offshore Grid initiative and calls on the Member States and the Commission to give it more prominence and support; calls for further support for decentralised and micro-scale energy production and smart energy infrastructures in all Member States; stresses, therefore, the need for strong coordination between Member States’' policies and for joint action, solidarity and transparency in view of the fact that national energy policy decisions can affect other Member States; suggests that it would be desirable to determine whether and how the expertise and facilities of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) could be put to use in carrying out the above tasks;
Amendment 671 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Recalls the conclusions of the 2002 European Council that set a non-binding electricity interconnection target of 10% of national installed production capacity to be achieved by 2005; stresses that the majority of Member States have not achieved this goal; believes that increased interconnection will facilitate cross- border trade and increase EU balancing capacity thereby resulting in more cost- effective integration of RES;
Amendment 672 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Calls on the Commission to include in its objectives for the 2030 framework for climate and energy a binding target, or set of targets, on electricity infrastructure interconnection based on an analysis of the comparative advantages of each Member State in the field of renewable energy and with a view to completing the EU 'supergrid' infrastructure linking North, South, East and West;
Amendment 673 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Notes the importance of aligning the pace of investments in energy infrastructure with investments in RES and other energy sources; emphasises the crucial role of energy transmission in the 2030 framework;
Amendment 674 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Stresses that European support plays a significant role in facilitating the building of cross-border energy transmission infrastructure across the EU; encourages the Commission and Member States to facilitate such cross- border investments through political and financial support, as well as discussions on incentives and regulatory regimes; highlights the need to support coherent and efficient permit granting regimes for infrastructure investments across Europe;
Amendment 683 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes that the lack of full implementation of internal energy market legislation and market distortions such as fossil fuel subsidies remains one of the main obstacles to completion of the single market; highlights the importance of eliminating remaining infrastructure 'bottlenecks' and instances of market failures and of ensuravoiding that noe creation of new barriers to electricity and gas market integration are createdsuch as badly designed capacity markets that discriminate against certain types of balancing resources; insists that in the future all flexibility in the energy system, whether national or European, generation or interconnection/demand response, should be rewarded in a transparent and fair manner; calls on the Commission to take market design into account in its 2030 proposals in order to improve electricity trading and develop transparent balancing and grid support services markets;
Amendment 686 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Recalls that a more decentralised energy system, relying to some extent on the cogeneration principle, can help mitigate problems faced by electricity networks, given the demand-driven mode of operation of cogeneration systems;
Amendment 693 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that energy end consumers – individuals, SMEs and industry alike – are at the very core of the internal energy market and that they should benefit from lower energy prices, be duly protected, and accurately informed by ensuringcosts thanks to increased energy efficiency and, in the longer term, renewables, and from easy access to information; for this purpose, calls on the Commission and Members States to achieve, as a matter of urgency, the completion of the internal market, security of supply and the interconnection of networks as requested in Article 194 TFEU;
Amendment 700 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses that the EU needs a coherent policy on energy affordability in order to ensure that the upgrade of the markets and infrastructure meets the needs of citizens, and that there needs to be transparency and accountability for the investments made; highlights that recovery of the costs of energy policy should be in the fairest manner possible; recalls that consumer engagement should be promoted and distributional impact assessments of EU and national policies should clearly distinguish between the different consumer groups so that initiatives are tailored to facilitate the greatest chance of success;
Amendment 718 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that in order to ensure security of supply there must be enough capacity to meet demandflexible balancing in peak periods and in periodsof peak demand and of (political or technological) difficulties and that excess capacity or backup must therefore be ensured and maintainedproblems and that flexibility can be effectively provided by cross-border trading and interconnection, a more efficient use of existing excess-capacity and flexible power plant, and demand side management; points out the need for storage and more grid flexibility from the grid as a response to the intermittencevariability of some sources of RES; and in order to match variable supply with flexible demand;
Amendment 743 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Asks the Commission to investigate the potential of energy storage in the EU and the various possible technologies in this area, and the various possible technologies, for energy storage in the EU; emphasises the important role that electric vehicles can play in storing excess renewable electricity and balancing energy grids in times of consumption peaks and shortages;
Amendment 793 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to launch a study analysing new and cost-efficient energy market designs with a view to ensuring reasonably priced electricity to consumers and to preventing carbon leakage; asks therefore the Commission to come forward as soon as possible with an additional assessment and recommendations for further actions to prevent the risk of carbon leakage caused by reallocation of production facilities outside the EU, focusing in particular on additional scenarios in which limited or no further global action is taken on carbon emission reductionues to investors, and to preventing carbon leakage;
Amendment 810 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Notes that the EU’'s main competitors on the global market place great emphasis on technological developments, innovation and improving industrial processes; notes also that their economies grow at a much faster pace than the EU; concludes that the EU must give priority to R&D and innovation, innovation and improving the productivity of industrial processes; recalls that the recent evidence shows that while the EU remains a marginal leader in the global clean-tech race, the US and China are rapidly closing the gap; calls therefore on the Commission and the Member States to step up their investments and support for green products and services;
Amendment 818 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Recognises that the renewable energy sector supports other economic sectors in Europe, such as metals, electric and electronic equipment, IT, construction, transport and financial services; regrets that there is no specific industrial policy to address the needs of this fast growing area that brings many jobs to the EU economy; calls on the Commission to develop an industrial strategy for renewable energy technologies, including stakeholders at regional and local level, and focusing on technology innovation, supply chain bottlenecks and financing;
Amendment 829 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Invites the Commission to develop a way of measuring competitiveness between the EU and its main competitors which could, for example, be based on fiscal policies, R&D, innovation, industrial energy prices, and regulatory burdens; stresses the need to factor the external costs of climate change into this new methodology, including those related to the environment, public health and ecosystems more widely;
Amendment 838 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Strongly uUnderlines that any future EU policy must address the comparative strengths and weaknesses of its economy, particularly with regard to any free trade agreement the EU signs up to, especially in light of the planned free trade agreement (TTIP) with the US where energy prices have been decreasing significantly while efforts to reduce GHG emissions are not on par with the progress already achieved in the EUtherefore supports an ambitious and coherent 2030 framework that will spur investment in innovative technologies, incentivise research and development, and thereby strengthen the EU's competitiveness;
Amendment 857 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Welcomes the Commission’'s remarks that the EU climate and energy targets impact differently on each Member State and their citizens, and that this justifies differently which therefore makes it fair to continue to working on a moren equitable effort sharing basis as has been the case to date, taking into account a country’'s GDP, achievements in reducing emissions since 1990, emissions per capita, economic potential and potential for renewable energy sources and energy efficiency;
Amendment 870 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Underlines, in line with Article 194 TFEU, that Member States are the ultimatthe EU is responsible for the completion of the internal energy market as well as promoting RES and energy efficiency, while Member States take decision makers as regards their energy mix and should be able to use and develop different approaches for technologies and energy sources that are environmentally sound and socially and economically acceptable provided they adopt a risk management approach and ensure delivery in accordance with European policy objectives of sustainability, security and affordability;
Amendment 882 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Points out that the main trend of planned actions should focus on implementing action scenarios that take account of existing potential in Member States, prospects for the development of cost-effective and sustainable new technologies, and the global impact of implementing the proposed policy, in order to be able to propose reduction objectives for the following years;
Amendment 892 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes that access to capital, even for heavy industry sectors, is often a barrier tofor investments in cleaner technologies and energy efficiency; tTherefore, asks the Commission to study the possibility of creating a fund thaties to create a fund that brings together existing and new funding streams and could help to leverageing investments, possibly financed inter alia by a share of the ETS revenues; invites the Commission to develop innovative finance instruments and give an increased role to the EIB, national public financing institutions, pension funds and insurance companies;
Amendment 898 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Notes that, at present, some emerging and developed countries are engaged in differentiatedvarious climate policies and investments, including also implementation of their own eEmissions trading scheme Trading Schemes; welcomes the future prospect of linking EU ETS with other carbon trading mechanisms worldwide to create a global carbon market; stresses that such a global approach will result in a level playing field for European industry and is the most comprehensive and cost-effective approach to tackling industrial GHG emissions;
Amendment 902 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Highlights that 138 countries worldwide have tailored RES targets and policies; recognises that investments in green technologies in India, China and the US are growing at a much faster pace that in the EU; stresses in this regard that Europe is far from 'doing it alone', but on the contrary risks missing the economic opportunity brought about by the energy transition currently under way;