15 Amendments of Jürgen KLUTE related to 2010/0220(NLE)
Amendment 12 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Coal can be used not only as a fuel but also as a raw material for the chemical industry, and will become increasingly important in this role in future.
Amendment 13 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) Production capacity lost through pit closure in the EU coal mining industry will be made up by coal imports into the EU, resulting in the Union being supplied with coal at the expense of third countries.
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Union's policies of encouraging renewable and lower carbon fossil fuels for power generation do notIt is politically hard to justify the indefinite support for uncompetitive coal mines. The categories of aid permitted by Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 should therefore not be continued indefinitely.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to minimise the distortion of competition in the internal market resulting from aid, such aid should be degressive and strictlyfollow a downward trend and should be limited to production units that are irrevocably planned for closure, except where they have become competitive by the scheduled date.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) The conditions for coal mining vary in geological terms depending on the site, and in terms of social, safety and environmental standards (relating to subsidence and environmental damage) according to the political circumstances. This leads to a competitive imbalance, in particular between EU coal and imported coal, which has forced the coal industry to embark on substantial restructuring measures involving major cutbacks in activity over the past few decades.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 b (new)
Recital 8 b (new)
(8b) A minimum level of coal production, together with other measures, in particular to promote renewable energy sources, will help to maintain a proportion of indigenous primary energy sources, which will significantly boost the Union's energy security. Furthermore, a proportion of indigenous primary energy sources will also serve to promote environmental objectives within the framework of sustainable development.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 c (new)
Recital 8 c (new)
(8c) A minimum level of production of subsidised coal will also help to maintain the prominent position of European mining and clean coal technology, enabling it in particular to be transferred to the major coal-producing areas outside the Union. Such a policy will contribute to a significant global reduction in pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 d (new)
Recital 8 d (new)
(8d) At present coal is used in the EU mainly for power generation and, to a lesser extent, for the production of coke for the steel industry. In the interests of the climate, coal-fired power generation should be halted as soon as possible in favour of ‘green’ power production. In the steel industry, on the other hand, coal is likely to be indispensable for the foreseeable future. In view of diminishing oil deposits (‘peak oil’), coal is likely to become increasingly important as a substitute raw material for the chemical industry. In the long term, therefore, it seems sensible to keep access to EU coal deposits open with a view to maintaining a minimum level of production for technical reasons. That being so, a minimum level of production for technical reasons which does not distort competition should not be ruled out in principle even if it necessitates a lengthy period of state aid.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) the operation of the production units concerned must form part of a closure plan the deadline of which does not extend beyond 1. October 201420;
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
b) the production units concerned must be closed definitively in accordance with the closure plan if they have not become competitive by that date;
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
f) the overall amount of closure aid granted by a Member State for any particular undertaking must follow a downward trend, where the annual reduction between successive periods of fifteen months must not be less than 3310 percent of the aid provided in the initial fifteen month period of the closure planfor the previous year;
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
g) the overall amount of closure aid to the coal industry of a Member State must not exceed, for any year after 2010, – adjusted in line with inflation and wage increases since that date – the amount of aid granted by that Member State and authorised by the Commission in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 for the year 2010.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. If the production units to which aid is granted pursuant to paragraph 1 are not closed at the date fixed in the closure plan as authorised by the Commission, the Member State concerned shall recover all aid granted in respect of the whole period covered by the closure plan. This scheme shall not include production units which have become competitive by the closure date set by the Commission in the closure plan.