Activities of Pilar AYUSO related to 2018/0209(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (debate) ES
Amendments (51)
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Union environmental, climate and relevant clean energy policy and legislation have delivered substantial improvements to the state of the environment. The gradual mainstreaming of environmental and climate actions within other European public policies, such as agriculture and energy, has also contributed to this improvement. However, major environmental and climate challenges remain, which if left unaddressed, will have significant negative consequences for the Union and the well- being of its citizens.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Pursuing the achievement of the Union's objectives and targets set by environmental, climate and related clean energy legislation, policy, plans and international commitments, the Programme should contribute to the shift towards a clean, circular, energy-efficient, low- carbon and climate-resilient economy, to the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment and to halting and reversing biodiversity loss while ensuring that fauna and flora are appropriately managed in the Union, either through direct interventions or by supporting the integration of those objectives in other policies.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Since 1992, LIFE programmes have played an essential role for better solidarity and responsibility sharing in preserving the common good of the Union's environment and climate. Environmental assets are unevenly distributed across the Union, but their benefits concern, and are felt by, the Union as a whole. The Union's obligation to preserve those assets calls for the consistent application of the principles of solidarity and responsibility sharing.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The transition to clean energy is an essential contribution to the mitigation of climate change with co-benefits for the environment. Actions for capacity building supporting the clean energy transition, funded until 2020 under Horizon 2020, should be integrated in the Programme since their objective is not to fund excellence and generate innovation, but to facilitate the uptake of already available technology that will contribute to climate mitigation. The Programme should involve all sectors involved in a clean energy transition, such as electricity producers, buildings, industry, transport and agriculture. The inclusion of these capacity building activities into the Programme offers potential for synergies between the sub-programmes and increases the overall coherence of Union funding. Therefore, data should be collected and disseminated on the uptake of existing research and innovation solutions in the LIFE projects, including from the Horizon Europe programme and its predecessors.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Halting and reversing biodiversity loss, including in marine ecosystem and the degradation of ecosystems, including in marine ecosystems, alongside appropriate management of fauna and flora, particularly for certain species suffering from overpopulation, such as the large carnivores, requires support for the development, implementation, enforcement and assessment of relevant Union legislation and policy, including the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 202022 , Council Directive 92/43/EEC23 and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council24 and Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council25 , in particular by developing the knowledge base for policy development and implementation and by developing, testing, demonstrating and applying best practices and solutions on small scale or tailored to specific local, regional or national contexts, including integrated approaches for the implementation of the prioritised action frameworks prepared on the basis of Directive 92/43/EEC. The Union should track its biodiversity-related expenditure to fulfil its reporting obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Requirements for tracking in other relevant Union legislation should also be met. _________________ 22 COM(2011) 244 final. 23 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). 24 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7). 25 Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 35).
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Recent evaluations and assessments, including the mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and the Fitness Check of Nature legislation, indicate that one of the main underlying causes for insufficient implementation of Union nature legislation and of the biodiversity strategy is the lack of adequate financing. The main Union funding instruments, including the [European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund], can make a significant contribution towards meeting those needs, while complying with the sectoral policy objectives and eligibility criteria defined by the Union for each of the funds, and ensuring that funding is complementary. The Programme can further improve the efficiency of such mainstreaming through strategic nature projects dedicated to catalysing the implementation of Union nature and biodiversity legislation and policy, including the actions set out in the Priority Action Frameworks developed in accordance with Directive 92/43/EEC. The strategic nature projects should support programmes of actions in Member States for the mainstreaming of relevant nature and biodiversity objectives into other policies and financing programmes, thus ensuring that appropriate funds are mobilised for implementing these policies. Member States could decide within their CAP Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy to use a certain share of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development allocation to leverage support for actions that complement the Strategic Nature Projects as defined under this Regulation, provided that the eligibility criteria defined in Regulation (EU).../... [Regulation on CAP Strategic Plans] and supplemented by the CAP national strategic plans are complied with.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The voluntary scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas (BEST) promotes the conservation of biodiversity, including marine biodiversity, and sustainable use of ecosystem services, including ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, in the Union's Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories. Through the BEST preparatory action adopted in 2011 and the subsequent BEST 2.0 and BEST RUP programmes, BEST has helped to raise awareness for the ecological importance of the Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories forand their key role in conserving global biodiversity. Through its support, 90 projects have been established, enabling the European Union to give direct support to local stakeholders. 80% of European biodiversity is in European overseas countries and territories and the Commission’s impact study estimates that the need for financial support for projects on the ground in these territories is EUR 8 million per year. In their Ministerial Declarations in 2017 and 2018, Overseas Countries and Territories have expressed their appreciation for this small grant scheme for biodiversity. It is therefore appropriate to allowinclude the BEST initiative within theis Programme to continue financing small grants for biodiversity, including capacity building and the capitalisation of actions funded in both the Outermost Regions and the Overseas Countries and Territories.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) Like all the funds made available by the Union, the LIFE programme must take into account EU territories with island status, whether or not they are Union overseas territories, as well as the potential associated problems. Various studies show that climate change will have a particularly marked effect on island territories, mainly as a result of the rise in sea and ocean levels. Moreover, in addition to the challenges of rising sea levels the Mediterranean faces acidification due to absorption of the carbon present in the atmosphere, which will also affect island territories.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 b (new)
Recital 15 b (new)
(15b) In the summer of 2018 there were extreme weather events in the Mediterranean, with features of severe tropical storms. The damage caused was extremely serious, even resulting in the loss of human life. In addition to the possibility of extraordinary funds being made available for individual disasters, a holistic approach must be taken to these events within the context of the European Union’s climate change adaptation strategy.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The improvement of governance on environmental, climate change and related clean energy transition matters requires involvement of civil society by raising public awareness, consumer engagement, and broadening of stakeholder involvement, including non-governmental organisations, in consultation on and implementation of related policiesand participation of civil society and socio-professional stakeholders, local partners and elected representatives to raise public awareness, consumer engagement, and broadening of stakeholder involvement.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)
Recital 20 a (new)
(20a) The Programme should help actors and territories to strengthen their capacity for resilience, by supporting the development and implementation of local and regional strategies for adapting coastal areas to climate change.
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) In the implementation of the Programme due consideration should be given to the strategy for outermost regions30 in view of Article 349 TFEU and the specific needs and vulnerabilities of these regions. The outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories of EU Member States should also be covered by the Programme’s action in favour of biodiversity following the incorporation of BEST into the LIFE programme. Union policies other than environmental, climate and relevant clean energy transition policies should also be taken into account. _________________ 30 COM(2017) 623 final COM(2017) 623 final
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30 a (new)
Recital 30 a (new)
(30a) The technical methodology for the project selection and the selection and award criteria should be included by the Commission in the multiannual work programmes, for reasons of transparency. Quality should serve as the overarching criterion governing the project evaluation and award process in the Programme.
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) The types of financing and the methods of implementation should be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. As regards grants, this should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and scales of unit costs. The European Commission must ensure that implementation is easy to understand, and must promote genuine simplification for project developers.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Regulation establishes thea Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (the ‘Programme’) covering the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027.
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
It lays down the objectives of the Programme, the budget for theis period 2021-2027, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
(6a) ‘potential candidate’ means a country or entity with a clear perspective of joining the Union in the future, but which has not yet been granted candidate status.
Amendment 172 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 b (new)
(6b) ‘overseas countries and territories’ means the overseas countries or territories linked to a European Union Member State covered by Part 4 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and listed in Annex II to the TFEU.
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to the shift towards a clean, circular, energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, including through the transition to clean energy, toand renewable energy and to promote the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment and tos well as halting and reversing biodiversity loss while ensuring that fauna and flora are appropriately managed, including the management of large carnivores, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
Amendment 181 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) to develop, demonstrate and promote innovative techniques and approaches for reaching the objectives of the Union legislation and policy on environment and climate action, including the transition to clean energy, and to contribute to the application of best practice in relation to nature and biodiversity, the preservation and management of biodiversity and supporting the transition to more sustainable farming practices;
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) to contribute to the application of best practice and to improve the knowledge base in relation to nature and biodiversity;
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
(ab) supporting the implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network and tackling the degradation of ecosystems, thereby contributing to sustainable development. The Programme shall also support the implementation of general action programmes on environment and climate policy adopted in accordance with Article 192(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) to adapt European territories to the effects of climate change, paying special attention to island and coastal territories.
Amendment 200 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the sub-programme Sustainable Farming Practices;
Amendment 209 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
(a) EUR 3 5005 322 000 000 for the field Environment, of which
Amendment 213 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 1
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 1
(1) EUR 2 150672 000 000 for the sub- programme Nature and Biodiversity and
Amendment 221 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a – point 2 a (new)
(2a) EUR 1 300 000 000 for the sub- programme Sustainable Farming Practices;
Amendment 234 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. At least 60 % of the budgetary resources under the field Environment referred to in point (a) in paragraph 2 shall be dedicated to grants for projects supporting the sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity referred to in point (1) of letter (a) in paragraph 2.
Amendment 243 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. On the basis of the Commission’s impact study and its estimates, adequate amounts shall be allocated to the BEST programme in order to continue supporting actors in the outermost regions and overseas countries and territories, capacity-building and the capitalisation of the operations financed.
Amendment 245 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Union programmes established in the respective framework agreements and Association Council decisions, or similar agreements and in accordance with the specific conditions laid down in agreements between the Union and those countries;
Amendment 247 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory part
(d) other third countries, including candidate countries and potential candidates, in accordance with the conditions laid down in a specific agreement covering the participation of the third country to any Union programme, provided that the agreement
Amendment 252 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
The Programme shall be implemented in a way which ensures its consistency with the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, Horizon Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility and InvestEU, in order to create synergies, particularly as regards strategic nature projects and strategic integrated projects, and to support the uptake and replication of solutions developed under the Programme. The Commission and Member States shall ensure consistency between the funding of Union programmes referred to in the first sub-paragraph, while preventing possible double funding.
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The maximum co-financing rates for the actions referred to in Articles 10(2) and 10(5) shall be up to 60% of eligible costs and 75% in the case of projects funded under the sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity that concern priority habitats or species for the implementation of Directive 92/43/EEC or the species of birds considered as a priority for funding by the Committee for Adaptation to Technical and Scientific Progress, set up pursuant to Article 16 of Directive 2009/147/EC, when necessary to achieve the conservation objective.
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. At least 85% of the budget for the LIFE Programme shall be allocated to grants as referred to in Article 10(2) and 10(5), or, where appropriate and to the extent specified within the multiannual work programmes referred to in Article 17, for financial instruments in the form of blending operations as referred to in Article 8(2). A maximum of 30% of these budgetary resources may be allocated to grants as referred to in Article 10(2)(a) and 10(2)(b) .
Amendment 268 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 3
3. Projects under the sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity concerning the management, restoration and monitoring of Natura 2000 sites in accordance with Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC shall be supported in accordance withtake account of priorities set out in national and regional plans, strategies and policies in prioritised action frameworks established pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC.
Amendment 269 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. Grants may finance activities outside the Uniona Member State of the Union or an overseas country or territory linked to that Member State, provided that the project pursues Union environmental and climate objectives and the activities outside the Union are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in Member State territories.
Amendment 274 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 6
Article 11 – paragraph 6
6. Legal entities established in a third country which is not associated to the Programme should in principlemust bear the cost of their participation.
Amendment 276 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. In order to ensure effective use of the Programme’s funds and efficient participation by the legal entities referred to in paragraph 4, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 21 to supplement this Article by laying down the extent to which participation by those legal entities in the environmental and climate policy conducted by the Union is sufficient for them to be considered eligible for the Programme.
Amendment 277 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12a Project submission and selection procedures 1. The Programme introduces two procedures for the submission and selection of projects, as follows: (a) a simplified two-stage approach based on the submission and evaluation of a summary, followed by a full proposal for those candidates whose proposals have been pre-selected; (b) a standard one-stage approach based solely on the submission and evaluation of a full proposal. If the standard approach is chosen in preference to the simplified approach, reasons must be given for that choice in the work programme, in view of the organisational and operational constraints linked to each sub-programme and, if applicable, each call for proposals. 2. For the purposes of the previous paragraph, a ‘summary’ means a note of no more than 10 pages including a description of the project’s content, the anticipated partner(s), constraints that are likely to arise and the emergency plan to address them, as well as the strategy selected to ensure the sustainability of the project results after it has ended, administrative forms relating to the beneficiaries participating in the project and a detailed project budget.
Amendment 280 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) projects financed by the Programme shall avoid undermining environmental, climate or relevant clean energy objectives of the Programme and, where possible, shall promote the use of green public procurement;
Amendment 284 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
a a) projects financed by the Programme shall avoid undermining the objectives or policy priorities of other EU legislation, such as structural policies, including, for example, regional or agricultural policies;
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) where appropriate, special regard shall be given to projects in geographical areas with specific needs or vulnerabilities, such as areas with specific environmental challenges or natural constraints, trans- border areas or outermost regions and overseas countries and territories linked to European Union Member States. Special attention should be paid to the issues of coastal erosion, coastal flooding and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
may receive support from the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund+ or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article [67] of Regulation (EU) XX [Common Provisions Regulation] and Article [8] or Regulation (EU) XX [Financing, management and monitoring of the Common Agricultural Policy], provided that such actions are consistent with the objectives and eligibility criteria of the programme concerned. The rules of the Fund providing support shall apply.
Amendment 305 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – title
Article 17 – title
17 WMultiannual work programme
Amendment 306 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. The ProgrammeCommission shall, be implemented by at leasy means of implementing acts adopt two multiannual work programmes referred to in Article 110 of the Financial Regulation. Work programmes shall set out, where applicable, the overall amount reserved for blending operationsfor the Programme. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 21a. The Commission will inform regularly the committee referred to in Article 21a about the overall progress of the implementation of the sub- programmes and will provide it with timely information on all actions proposed or funded under the Programme.
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(a a) the maximum total amount for financial instruments within blending operations;
Amendment 318 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(c a) the technical methodology for the project selection procedure and selection and award criteria for grants;
Amendment 320 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
(c b) qualitative and quantitative outcomes, indicators and targets for each priority area and type of projects for the period covered by the multiannual work programme;
Amendment 322 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c c (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point c c (new)
(c c) indicative timetables for the calls for proposals for the period covered by the multiannual work programme;
Amendment 323 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt multiannual work programmes for the LIFE programme. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 21a.
Amendment 336 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21 a (new)