32 Amendments of Reinhard BÜTIKOFER related to 2013/2177(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F – introductory part
Recital F – introductory part
F. whereas despite the leadershippersistent efforts exerted by the European steel industry in terms of research and development, low environmental impact andand its resource efficiency measures, its global competitiveness is at risk as a combined result of several factors:
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F – point 1
Recital F – point 1
• the demand for steel has dropped substantially owing to the financial substantially owing amongst others and economic crisis; to the financial and economic crisis but also structural changes in some steel using sectors;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F – point 1 a (new)
Recital F – point 1 a (new)
• The financial, industrial and commercial strategies pursued by major actors of the steel industry sector leading to concentration and financiarisation of the sector;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F – point 2
Recital F – point 2
• the operational costs are excessively high compared to those of competitors;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F – point 3
Recital F – point 3
• there is fierce competition from third countries not complying with the samewhere a level playing field does not exist;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. Whereas a number of large steelmakers have been pursuing strategies focusing on short-term financial returns at the detriment of innovation, investments in R&D, employment and skills’ renewal; Whereas their stop-and- go policies pursued with the sole purpose of maintaining prices has been detrimental to plant equipment, key competences and know-how;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. Whereas the demand from the automotive sector is in decline due to structural over-capacity, while on the other hand other sectors such as renewable energy, energy infrastructure, represent real opportunities for the steel sector (one 3mW wind turbine = 500 cars);
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading I.1
Subheading I.1
I.1.Boosting demandSupporting the development of new strategies and markets
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that economicsustainable growth depends on a stronger European industry, and therefore urges the Commission and the Member States to boost demand by supportingsupport the strategic development of new key steel-using sectors, stimulating investment conditions, including for research and innovation and development of skills, strengthening the internal market and advancing European infrastructure development projects such as in the energy sector (generation and distribution of renewable energy), public transport sector and resource efficient construction projects;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Believes that ambitious European renewables and energy-savings policies could drive future steel demand in Europe especially offering the opportunity for producing new (high value) added products;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Asks the Commission to establish an in- depth steel market analysis instrument which could provide precise information on the European and global steel supply- demand balance, distinguishing between structural and cyclical components of development of this market; believes that monitoring the steel market could significantly contribute to the transparency of steel and scrap markets and provide valuable inputs to corrective and proactive measures which are inevitable due to the cyclical nature of the steel industry;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Asks the Commission to use this market analysis instrument to anticipate the risks and to investigate how closure of plants affects the recovery of the sector;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Asks the Commission to identify and share best practices of industrial economy involving steelmaking such as in Jinan (China) in order to mitigate production costs and environmental pressures;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Asks the Commission to take steps to ensure that Member States will not be played one against the other when a large steelmaker running plants in several countries announces restructuring;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Asks the Commission to immediately and fully deploy EU funding according to state aid rules to reduce the social impact of industrial restructuring and to examine options to shorten collectively the working time;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Asks the Commission to immediately and fully deploy EU funding according to state aid rules to reduce the social impact of industrial restructuring and to examine options to shorten collectively the working time;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses the need for qualified and skilled people to cope with the transition towards more sustainable production processes and products, and calls for a European training and education strategy. Welcomes the Greening Technical Vocational Education & Training project for the steel sector1 whereby steel companies, research institutes and the social partners jointly investigated skills needs for environmental sustainability. Calls on the Commission to further support the implementation of its results; __________________ 1 http://www.gt-vet.com/?page_id=18
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading II.1
Subheading II.1
II.1.Secure and sustainable energy supplies at affordable pricesnd efficient use of energy
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that there is a significant gap in industrial energy prices between the EU and its main competitors; recognises that energy pricesconsumption are important cost drivers for the steel industry; believes that the efficient functioning of the single energy market is a necessary precondition iffor the steel industry is to be supplied by secure and sustainable energy at affordable pricecosts;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises that security of energy supply is an important prerequisite for the steel industry; calls on the Member States to ensure secure energy supplies by developing the necessary energy infrastructure projects; encourages the Commission to promote the diversification of natural gas sources and routes; asks the Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the adequacy of electricity generation and to provide guidance on how to maintain the flexibility of electricity networks;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Believes that support should be provided to invest in technologies maximising the utilisation of energy input, for instance by optimising the use of process gases and the waste heat that could be used for steam and electricity production;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading II.2
Subheading II.2
II.2. Climate protection, resource efficiency and environmental impact
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Believes that the example of Taranto steel plant in Italy demonstrates the importance of environmental investments for the safeguard of an industrial capacity that would remain not only competitive but also sustainable and responsible;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Believes that waste legislation should be improved to sustain the functioning of the EU steel scrap market through for instance a revision of the End-of Life vehicles directive; suggests to set collection targets, strengthen producers’ responsibility, and widen the scope to lorries, buses and motorcycles;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Believes that further resource efficiency should be pursued by focusing on lightweight construction, custom- tailored components and high-strength steels;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the Commission to reconcile the political goals relating to climate and the environment with the competitiveness of the industry while ensuring the achievement of the climate and energy targets and avoiding risks of carbon leakage and relocation;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that trade negotiations should follow a reciprocaln approach under which considerations such as access to new markets, access to raw materials, risk of carbon leakages, the level playing field and leakages of knowhow are taken into account; the strategies should reflect the differences between developed and major emerging economies on the one hand and least developed countries on the other;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Recalls the Parliament support to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the global network Publish What You Pay (PWYP) and its request that these standards should, in particular, be applied to projects receiving EU funding, for example from the EIB;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Asks the Commission to advance the reform of the regulatory framework for financial markets, in order to prevent speculative price volatility and, ensure pricing transparency and improve security of supply, of steel as well as raw materials;