Activities of Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS related to 2020/0006(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund
Amendments (59)
Amendment 30 #
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. 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+ willmay contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) Just Transition should be a horizontal policy approach in the new MFF 2021-2027 and thus sufficiently funded. JTF should not be considered as a stand-alone funding instrument but it should be additional to other funding schemes that ensure a fair transition for all to climate neutrality;
Amendment 62 #
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 and social 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 cost, social and regional challenges and divergences of the transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral and, socially balanced and inclusive circular economy, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by equivalent absorptions. __________________ 11 COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019. 12 COM(2020) 21, 14.1.2020.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral and, socially balanced and inclusive 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, peat 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 cohesion.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to be successful, the transition has to be fair, sustainable and socially acceptable for allinclusive, fully respecting labour rights, preventing unemployment and socio-economic marginalisation. Therefore, both the Union and the Member States must take into account its economic and soci, social and regional implications from the outset, and deploy all possible instruments to mitigate adverse consequences. The Union budget hasshould play an important role in that regard.
Amendment 78 #
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 shouldmay 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.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Just Transition should be a horizontal policy approach in the new 2021-2027 MFF and thus sufficiently funded. As set out in the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, a Just Transition Mechanism should not be considered as a stand-alone funding instrument, but to complement the other actions under the next multi-annual financial framework for the period from 2021 to 2027, ensuring a fair transition for all to climate neutrality. It should contribute to addressing the social and, economic and regional consequences of transitioning towards Union climate neutrality by bringing together the Union budget’s spending on climate and social objectives at regional level.
Amendment 92 #
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 effectprevent and successfully address the social, environmental, economic and regional challenges of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories, local communities and workers concerned. In line with the JTF specific objective, actions supported by the JTF should directly contribute to alleviate the social, environmental, economic and regional impact of the transition by financing the diversification and modernisation of the local economy and by mitigating the negative repercussions on employment by specific measures to ensure the wages, quality of life and training of employees, as well as by consulting all relevant stakeholders and raising awareness well before planning the implementation of the just transition territorial plans. 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 102 #
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. 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 that may be transferred from othe ERDF and ESF+ willr funds covered by Regulation (EU) [new CPR] should contribute fully to the achievement of this target.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy. of the JTF should be commensurate with its ambitious objectives. In order to achieve them, the JTF should be a fully-fledged fund equipped with a distinct and adequate financial allocation, independent of the allocations of other EU structural and investment funds. Access to the JTF should not be conditional upon transfers from other funds. However, the resources of the JTF alone will not be able to address the whole range of challenges linked to a fair and inclusive transition to climate neutrality. For that reason, the resources from the JTF should complement the resources available under cohesion policy, but should by no means replace cohesion investment funding schemes and the establishment of the JTF should not lead to cuts to or mandatory transfers from other funds covered by Regulation (EU) [new CPR], thus providing for the complementation of policies and objectives. Allocation of funds for the JTF should not be at the expense of regions that do not benefit from it, as this could increase structural differences.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be an additional amount of EUR 7.530 billion in 2018 prices, which may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act.
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Transitioning to a sustainable, climate-neutral, socially balanced and inclusive economy is a challenge for all Member States. ItHowever, not all Member States and regions have the same starting points and needs, which consequently means that some of them will be much more exposed to social and economic risks. The transition 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 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 needs and capacity of Member States to finance the necessary investments to cope with the social, economic and regional challenges linked to a fair and inclusive transition towards climate neutrality.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Access to the JTF should be conditional to the acceptance of an ambitious Long Term Strategy consistent with an EU-wide objective of climate neutrality by 2050, as well as of intermediate national targets for 2030 consistent with the new 2030 EU target;
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) The fact that some regions are heavily dependent on fossil fuels should be taken into serious consideration when planning the just transition territorial plans and the implementation of their projects, in view of preventing further social, economic and regional disparities through unemployment and poverty within the Union. Necessary funds should be allocated for the training of employees affected directly or indirectly by these programmes.
Amendment 128 #
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. The list of investments should includprioritise those that support people, workers, communities and local economies and are sustainable in the medium and long- term, takbeing into accountfully in line with all the objectives of the Green Deal, the Paris Agreement and the European Pillar of Social Rights. The projects financed should contribute to a transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral and, socially balanced and inclusive circular economy. For declining sectors, such as energy production based on coal, lignite, peat and oil shale, gas, oil or extraction activities for these solid fossil fuels, support should be linked to the phasing out of the activity based on a clearly defined roadmap, agreed by all stakeholders, including the affected employees and local communities, and the corresponding reduction in the employment level. 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 20501340 while maintaining and enhancing employment and avoiding environmental degradation. Particular attention should also be given to activities enhancingwhich maximise community benefits related to renewable energy, enhance 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 high-quality and sustainable jobs, help mitigate the negative sideocio-economic 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 131 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investments in the creation of new firms, in alternative sustainable economic activities, including through business incubators and consulting services;
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To protect citizens and employees who are most vulnerable to the climate transition, especially in the most affected territories, the JTF should also cover the up-skilling and reskilling of the affected workers, with the aim of helping them to adapt to newin a sustainable, inclusive, long- term and gender-balanced way to new, full and high-quality employment opportunities, as well as providing job- search assistance to jobseekers and ensure their active, qualitative and sustainable inclusion into the labour market, taking also measures to mitigate social side effects, such as increasing housing and energy costs.
Amendment 142 #
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;. These investments should be complementary and consistent with the polluter pays principle.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Additionally, all investments must be eligible under the EU Sustainable Taxonomy Regulation and follow a community-driven approach in terms of planning, taking and ownership of investments;
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to enhance the economic diversification of territories impacted by the transition, the JTF should provide support to productive investment in SMEs. Productive investment should be understood as investment in fixed capital or immaterial assets of enterprises in view of producing goods and services thereby contributing to gross-capital formation and high-quality and sustainable employment. For enterprises other than SMEs, productive investments should only be supported if they are necessary for mitigating job losses resulting from the transition, by creating or protecting a significant number of jobs and they do not lead to or result from relocation. Investments in existing industrial facilities, includAny such investment should be justified accordingly ing those covered by the Union Emissions Trading System, should be allowed if they contribute to the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 and go substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free e relevant territorial just transition plan. These investments should be sustainable and consistent with the polluter pays principle and the energy efficiency first principle and not be considered as window of opportunity for industrial installocation under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council14 and if they result in the protection of a significant number of jobs. Any such is to sell surplus emissions allowances for their own profit. Investments should be justified accordingly in the relevant territorial just transition plannot be made in fossil fuels installations. In order to protect the integrity of the internal market and cohesion policy, support to undertakings should comply with Union State aid rules as set out in Articles 107 and 108 TFEU and, in particular, support to productive investments by enterprises other than SMEs should be limited to enterprises located in areas designated as assisted areas for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 107(3) TFEU. __________________ 14Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to provide flexibility and coherence for the programming of the JTF resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, it should be possible to Member States, in cooperation with local and regional authorities, employees, social partners, local communities, civil society and all relevant stakeholders, should 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 shouldmay be reinforced on a voluntary basis with complementary funding from othe ERDF and the ESF+r funds covered by Regulation (EU) [new CPR], only where justified and without prejudice to the achievement of the objectives of these funds. The respective amounts that may be transferred from the ERDF and the ESF+se funds should be consistent with the type of operations set out in the territorial just transition plans.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The JTF support should be conditional and measurable on the effective implementation of a transition process in a specific territory in order to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2040. In that regard, Member States should prepare, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholdersdialogue and in close cooperation well in advance and with full transparency with all relevant stakeholders, in particular with local and regional authorities, affected employees, social partners, local communities and civil society, and supported by the Commission, territorial just transition plans, detailing the transition process, consistently with their National Energy and Climate Plans. 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. This close cooperation and consultation should continue in all stages of the JTF programmes, including implementation and evaluation.
Amendment 169 #
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, while protecting the workers affected and enhancing the creation of new, sustainable and high-quality jobs. 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, the Paris Agreement and the European Pillar of Social Rights. 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 180 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall only approve a programme where the identification of the territories most negatively affected by the transition process, contained within the relevant territorial just transition plan, is duly justified and the relevant territorial just transition plan is consistent with the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned. For those Member States which have not yet committed to a 2050 national climate neutrality target, the Commission shall release only 50% of their national allocation and make the remaining 50% available once they have adopted that target;
Amendment 182 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The objectives of this Regulation, namely to support territories facing economic and social transformation in their transition to a climate-neutral economy, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States alone. The main reasons in this regard are, on the one hand, the differentiated degree of reliance on fossil fuels and the disparities between the levels of development and employment of the various territories and the backwardness of the least favoured territories, as well as the limit on the financial resources of the Member States and territories and, on the other hand, the need for a coherent implementation framework covering several Union funds under shared management. Since those objectives can better be achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives,
Amendment 184 #
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 20540.
Amendment 194 #
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, municipalities, people and workers to address the social, economic, regional and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate- neutral economy’. by 2040 and ambitious EU targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction for 2030 consistent with Regulation (EU) [new EU Climate Law]. Priority should be given to activities that ensure high social and environmental standards, in particular through compliance with collective agreements and the promotion of workers’ participation.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The JTF shall support just transition and climate neutrality by 2040 for all and the Investment for jobs and growth goal in all Member States.
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The distinct resources for the JTF under the Investment for jobs and growth goal available for budgetary commitment for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 7.540 billion in 2018 prices, which may be increased, as the case may be, by additional resources allocated in the Union budget, and by other resources in accordance with the applicable basic act. No mandatory transfer of allocations from other funds covered by Regulation (EU) [new CPR] shall be foreseen.
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall adopt a decision by means of an implementinglegated act setting out the annual breakdown of resources, including any additional resources referred to in paragraph 2, by Member State in accordance with the methodology set out in Annex I.
Amendment 228 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Access to the JTF should be conditional to the acceptance of an ambitious Long Term Strategy consistent with an EU-wide objective of climate neutrality by 2040 and with Regulation (EU) [new EU Climate Law] as well as of intermediate national targets for 2030.
Amendment 237 #
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 the creation of high-quality and sustainable jobs, economic diversification and reconversion;
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) investments in public and social infrastructure and services of general interest, including targeted measures to address energy poverty and promote affordable energy by local energy communities;
Amendment 250 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investments in the creation of new firms in alternative sustainable economic activities, including through business incubators and consulting services;
Amendment 275 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) investments in digitalisation and digital connectivity, especially for rural areas with limited access to broadband technology;
Amendment 283 #
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, restoration of ecosystems and repurposing projects, which should be complimentary to and consistent with the polluter pays principle;
Amendment 292 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) investments in promoting industrial heritage, including forms of sustainable tourism;
Amendment 297 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point h
(h) training, upskilling and reskilling of workers, including counselling and support services for workers in change processes, to ensure sustainable, inclusive, long-term and quality employment;
Amendment 317 #
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. and create or protect a significant number of high- quality jobs and provided that they do not lead to or result from relocation, are fully aligned with Regulation (EU) [Taxonomy Regulation] and the Paris Agreement and follow a community-driven approach in terms of planning, taking and ownership of investments.
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) investment related to the production, processing, distribution, storage, transport, transmission or combustion of fossil fuels, including new mines or power plants using fossil fuels in exchange for outdated ones, with the exception of district heating facilities in coal and lignite regions in transition;
Amendment 361 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall only approve a programme where the identification of the territories most negatively affected by the transition process, contained within the relevant territorial just transition plan, is duly justified, and the relevant territorial just transition plan, commits to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the EU's goal of climate neutrality by 2040 and is consistent with the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 366 #
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 committed to a 2050 national climate neutrality target, the Commission shall release only 50% of their national allocation and make the remaining 50% available once they have adopted that target.
Amendment 371 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The JTF priority or priorities shall comprise the JTF resources consisting of all or part of the JTF allocation for the Member States and the resources transferredhat may be transferred on a voluntary basis in accordance with Article [21a] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR]. The total of the ERDF and ESF+ resources transferred to the JTF priority shall be at least equal to one and a half times the amount of support from the JTF to that priority but shall not exceed three times that amount.
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall prepare, together with the relevant authoritielocal and regional authorities, social partners, employees, local communities, civil society and all relevant stakeholders of the territories concerned, one or more territorial just transition plans covering one or more affected territories corresponding to level 3 of the common classification of territorial units for statistics (‘NUTS level 3 regions’) as established by Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/201417 or parts thereof, in accordance with the template set out in Annex II. Those territories shall be those most negatively affected based on the economic and social impacts resulting from the transition, in particular with regard to expected job losses in fossil fuel production and use and the transformation needs of the production processes of industrial facilities with the highest greenhouse gas intensity. __________________ 17 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154 21.6.2003, p. 1).
Amendment 384 #
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 and local level towards a sustainable, climate- neutral economy, including a timeline for key transition steps, socially balanced and inclusive economy by 2040, including a timeline for key transition steps, such as decommissioning of fossil fuel installations and overall phase-out dates, including where coal is used a coal phase-out by 2030, which are consistent with the latest version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (‘NECP’) and Regulation (EU) [new EU Climate Law];
Amendment 392 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) an assessment of the transition challenges faced by the most negatively affected territories, including the social, economic, and environmental impact of the transition to a climate-neutral economy, identifying the potential number of affected jobs and job losses, the development needs and objectives, to be reached by 2030 linked to the transformation orf energy and carbon intensive industry, with the transition away from fossil fuel use and the closure of greenhouse gas-intensive activities in those territories;
Amendment 399 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) an assessment of its consistency with other EU, national, regional or territorial strategies and plans;
Amendment 407 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) where support is provided to investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC, an exhaustive list of operations to be supported and a justification that they contribute to a transition to a sustainable, climate -neutral economy, socially balanced and inclusive economy by 2040 and lead to a substantial reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions going substantially below the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation under Directive 2003/87/EC and provided that they are necessary for the protection of a significant number of jobs;
Amendment 413 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. The preparation and, implementation and evaluation of territorial just transition plans shall involve the relevant partnersmeaningful, inclusive and accessible consultation and participation of local and regional authorities, social partners, employees, local communities, civil society organisations and all other relevant stakeholders of the territories concerned in accordance with Article [6] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], which has to be ensured by the Member States.
Amendment 416 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Territorial just transition plans shall be consistent with the territorial strategies referred to in Article [23] of Regulation (EU) [new CPR], with relevant smart specialisation strategies, the NECPs and, the European Pillar of Social Rights, Regulation (EU) [Taxonomy Regulation] and the Paris Agreement.
Amendment 421 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Full transparency and democratic accountability shall be ensured at all stages of the process. In this regard, the Commission shall provide with a public evaluation assessment, as well as a report to the Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 428 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 3(3) and Article 8(4) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [the date of the entry into force of this Regulation].
Amendment 430 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 3(3) and Article 8(4) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
Amendment 431 #
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, local and regional authorities, social partners, employees, local communities, civil society organisations and all other relevant stakeholders of the territories concerned in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.
Amendment 433 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 6
Article 10 – paragraph 6
6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 3(3) and Article 8(4) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Amendment 439 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) greenhouse-gas emissions of industrial facilities in NUTS level 2 regions where the carbon intensity, as defined by the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions of industrial facilities as reported by Member States in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council28 compared to the gross value added of the industry, exceeds by a factor of two the EU-27 average. Where that level is not exceeded in any NUTS level 2 regions in a given Member State, greenhouse-gas emissions of industrial facilities in the NUTS level 2 region with the highest carbon intensity is taken into account (weighting 439%), __________________ 28Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending Council Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC (OJ L 33, 4.2.2006, p. 1).
Amendment 440 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) employment in mining and combustion of coal and lignite as a proportion of the total industrial workforce of each region (weighting 25%),
Amendment 451 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
(iiia) unemployment rate in regions where coal or lignite is being mined or combusted (weighting 10%);
Amendment 457 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the allocations resulting from the application of point (a) are adjusted to ensure that no Member State receives an amount exceeding EUR 28 billion. The amounts exceeding EUR 28 billion per Member State are redistributed proportionally to the allocations of all other Member States. The Member States shares are recalculated accordingly;