51 Amendments of Corinne LEPAGE related to 2012/2103(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 1
Section 1 – paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the EU's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% in the energy sector in order to realise the 2°C goal;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 2
Section 1 – paragraph 2
2. Finds it regrettable that the Commission has based all decarbonisation scenarios on the assumption of global climate action and has not carried out any analysis to identify the EU's ambitions in the event that global action is delayed; also regrets that the Commission has omitted to look into a scenario based on high levels of efficiency and renewable energy, which would be the most resilient to a higher oil price in the event that global action is delayed;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises the benefits to Member States of working together for an energy system transformation which must start nowimmediately; endorses, therefore, the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050 as the basis for proposing legislative and other initiatives on energy policy with a view to developing a policy framework for 2030, including milestones and targetsbased on targets for greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy and energy efficiency; notes that defining energy targets for 2050 assumes pan- European governance; pursues, within the spirit of the Union, a strategy that will allow Member States to cooperate and not feel repressed underfreely in order to implement the Roadmap;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 3
Section 1 – paragraph 3
3. Supports the conclusion that decarbonisation of the EU by 2050 is feasible and will require high levels of investments; calls on the Commission to create clarity and stability for investors by reducing over-regulasetting clear, ambitionus and by setting a clear, technology-neutral goalinding targets for emissions reductions, efficiency and renewable energy, based on a high efficiency and renewables scenario for 2030;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 4
Section 1 – paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to propose a clear 2030 goal by setting a singlembitious target s for CO2 reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency; reiterates the need to at the minimum meet the milestones for emission reduction stated in the low-carbon roadmap and to put forward all needed measureppropriate levels for the various targets promptly;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the proposed strategies for 2030 andcenarios for 2050 are not of a deterministic nature, but rather serve as a basis for constructive dialogue on issues relating to industry, research and energyhow to transform Europe's energy system in order to meet our long- term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050 below 1990 levels;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the importance of the EU's energy policy amidst the financial crisis; emphasises the role that energy coulddecarbonisation can potentially play in spurring growth and, economic competitiveness and jobs in the EU; calls on the Commission to propose post-2020 strategies and to present a 2030 policy framework for European energy policy based on the no regrets options identified in the Roadmap; encourages the Member States to step up their ongoing efforts to reach the current 2020 targets in the area of EU energy policy; with a particular emphasis on the 20% energy efficiency target by 2020 which is currently not on track;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 5
Section 1 – paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to develop sound ways of financing the energy transition, including a strengthened ETS, innovation initiatives such as Horizon 2020, an increased involvement of the European Investment Bank in the finance of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, and market-based mechanisms;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that a clear policy and regulatory framework will stimulate the necessary investments for low-carbon energy investmentinto sustainable low-carbon technologies; Uunderlines the importance of an energy strategy focused on increasing the EU's energy security and economic competitiveness through measures such as increased deployment of European renewables, the diversification of supply routes and sources including better interconnection among Member States, and energy efficiency;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that it is in the competence of each Member State to define its own energy mix within the long-term EU energy and climate change framework; acknowledges that the Energy Roadmap 2050 complements national, regional and local efforts to moderdecarbonise energy supply; acknowledges, therefore, the need for Member States to work together on the basis of common objectives, as well as the important role to be played by the EU; urges the Member States and the Commission to continue to pursue options which can meet the EU's decarbonisation objective in an economically efficient, safe and sustainable way, and to continue with efforts to fully tap the potential for cost- effective energy savings, supported, inter alia, by available Union financial instruments; recognises, at the same time, the merits of developing a coordinated and, where appropriate, common European approach;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Regrets that the Commission failed to put forward a scenario based on high energy efficiency and high renewables together, which would have shown very positive results because of the synergies between the two; calls on the Commission to analyse such a scenario for 2050;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. AcknowledgWelcomes the conclusions reached in the Energy Roadmap 2050 that there are similarities between theincreased deployment of renewables, energy efficiency and energy infrastructure are the no regrets actions that must be taken in all of the analysed scenarios in order to transform the EU's energy system, regardless of the specific path chosen, to achieve a low-carbon 2050 energy system; believes that renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy infrastructure are ‘no regrets’ options;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises that a substantially higher share of renewable energy beyond 2020 is a key aspect of a more sustainablfuture energy system; recognises, furthermore, that all of the decarbonisation scenarios explored in the Commission communication assume an increased share of renewable energy in the EU energy mix of around 30% in gross final energy consumption in 2030 leading to shares of renewable energy of more than 55% in 2050; stresses that a higher share of renewables of up to 45% by 2030 can be obtained if energy efficiency investments take place early and renewable heating and cooling technologies are fully taken into account;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that improved energy efficiency and energy savings will play an essential role in the transformation of the energy system, and that meeting the 2020 objectives is an important basis prerequisite for further progress up to 2050; recommends, in this respect, that energy efficiency be integrated into national educational curricula in the Member StatesMember States step up their efforts to fully implement and go beyond the recently adopted Energy Efficiency Directive, and that the Commission presents an ambitious policy framework for energy efficiency and savings, including targets for 2030;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights the need at European, national and local levels to take an integrated approach encompassing potential savings in the energy supply and the end-use sectors; is of the opinion that the transition to a low carbon economy calls for a greater attention to be paid to the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling systems;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the urgent need for new, smart and flexible infrastructure – including smart grids and smart meters – and a fully integrated network planning in orderEuropean grid system, inter alia, to integrate local and more remoterapidly growing sources of renewable energy across the EU, as has been proven necessarywell as new electricity use and storage (such as electric vehicles); stresses, moreover, the urgent need for the establishment of mechanisms to allow for EU financing of infrastructure pProjects of cCommon interestInterest in line with the Energy Infrastructure Guidelines and the Connecting Europe Facility;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Insists on the need to give a higher priority to demand-side management so as to ensure the deployment of technologies and systems on the end-user side, thereby achieving the decarbonisation transition at an affordable and sustainable cost for society;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2 a (new) (after paragraph 10)
Subheading 2 a (new) (after paragraph 10)
Energy Efficiency
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 f (new) (after new subheading 'Energy Efficiency)
Paragraph 10 f (new) (after new subheading 'Energy Efficiency)
10f. Stresses that energy efficiency is a highly cost-effective way for Europe to achieve its energy, climate change and economic goals; reminds of the enormous potential of energy efficiency in limiting our dependence on imported energy and re-launching the economy; recognises that shifting to a more energy-efficient economy would accelerate the spread of innovative technological solutions and improve the competitiveness of industry in the Union, boosting economic growth and creating high quality jobs in several sectors related to energy efficiency; believes that the move towards a better energy efficiency policy should include a focus on the whole energy supply and demand chain including transformation, transmission, distribution and supply, alongside industrial, building and household consumption; recommends that Member States integrate energy efficiency objectives in more policy areas, conduct a systematic analysis of the energy saving potential of key sectors such as buildings and transport and develop robust policy roadmaps to reach such potential;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 g (new) (after new subheading 'Energy Efficiency)
Paragraph 10 g (new) (after new subheading 'Energy Efficiency)
10g. Stresses that the EU's long-term strategy in energy must regard the reduction of energy use in buildings as a central element; reminds that, in this respect, existing buildings represent in all EU countries the most promising area for action due to their current poor levels of energy performance; recalls that energy saving technologies are well developed in this sector with most barriers preventing this huge potential being non-technical ones; urges Member States to develop national roadmaps to unlock this potential, equipping their economies with an appropriate legal and financial framework, including intermediate milestones, underlines that the current rate of building renovation needs to be increased and the average depth of renovation substantially scaled up, in order to allow the EU to reduce the energy consumption of the existing building stock by 80% by 2050 compared to 2010 levels;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 h (new) (after new subheading 'Energy Efficiency)
Paragraph 10 h (new) (after new subheading 'Energy Efficiency)
10h. Acknowledges that the recently adopted Directive on Energy Efficiency asks Member States to establish long-term strategies for the renovation of the national stock of public and private buildings; stresses the importance of providing a solid EU framework for helping Member States to make these long-term plans as ambitious as possible;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses that the overall aim of a long-term strategy for decarbonisation is also to replace fossil fuel imports with renewable energy technology exports; highlights in this regard the need for the European Union and the European Commission to support and promote open market policies for renewable goods and services in order to ensure the removal of all trade barriers, including local content requirements;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Recognises that renewable energy targets have been successful and should be prolonged to 2030; calls on Member States to keep on track towards meeting their 2020 targets; is concerned by Member States' increasing abrupt changes to support mechanisms for renewable energy, in particular retroactive changes and freezes in support; calls for the Commission to carefully monitor the Renewable Energy Directive's implementation and take action if necessary; calls on Member States to provide stable frameworks for investments in renewable energy, including stable and regularly reviewed support schemes and streamlined administrative procedures;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Highlights that while stable long- term frameworks for renewable energy support are key to increase investor confidence and thereby decrease the cost of capital, more can be done to ease access to finance for renewable energy investors, such as stepping up the EIB's involvement in renewable energy finance, setting up national green investment banks, easing the involvement of long- term liability institutions such as pension funds and insurance companies; calls on the Commission and Member States to look into innovative instruments for renewable energy finance;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Recalls that heating and cooling represent about 45% of the EU final energy consumption; stresses the role of renewable heating and cooling technologies for the decarbonisation of the energy sector; calls on the Commission to develop an action plan for renewable heating and cooling that includes an assessment of the EU´s heating and cooling demand as well as best-practice examples on how to support the sector; notes that readily available renewable solutions (geothermal, biomass including biodegradable waste, solar thermal and hydro-/aerothermal) in combination with energy efficiency measures, including CHP and the utilisation of waste heat, have the potential to decarbonise the entire heat demand by 2050 in a cost-effective way;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that, as Member States pursue the goal of energy security and energy interdependence, emphasis needs to be shifted towards a model of energy interdependence by ensuring the swift completion of the EU internal energy market and the EU supergrid infrastructure linking North and South, and East and West; highlights the importance of ensuring that policy and regulatory developments in Member States will eliminate remaining infrastructure ‘bottlenecks’ and will not create new barriers to electricity and gas or energy market integration; stresses, moreover, that energy policy decisions in each national system need to take account of how such decisions could affect other Member States;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the need for a fully integrated European energy market by 2014; notes the importance of full implementation of the internal energy market legislation in all Member States and the need to ensure that no Member State or region remains isolated from the European gas and electricity networks after 2015 or sees its energy security jeopardised by lack of appropriate connections; highlights the need to take the social impact into account while making sure that energy prices better reflect costs, including environmental costs currently not taken fully into account;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights the new challenges, such as the need for flexible back-up and balancing resources in the power system (e.g. flexible generation, storage, demand management), that will arise as the contribution of variable renewable generation increases; stresses the need to have sufficientfor a proper assessment of the capacity available in Europe to ensure security of electricity supply; stresses, in this regard, that policy developments in Member States should not create new barriers to electricity- or gas-market integratione importance of better interconnection between Member States and third countries; points out that according higher priority to demand-side management and demand-side energy generation would considerably strengthen the integration of decentralised energy sources and would advance the achievement of overall energy policy objectives;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalls that markets must continue to play the main role in financing energy infrastructure investments, while acknowledging that there are some projects that may require limited public support to leverage private funding; emphasises that any contribution from public finance should be based on clear, transparent criteria, should not distort competition and, should take into account the interests of consumers and be fully in line with the EU long-term energy and climate change goals;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Highlights the role of a one-stop-shop approach in complementing the EU's simplification objectives to cut red tape, thereby speeding up authorisation and permit procedures and reducing the administrative burden on companies seeking authorisation concerning the development of energy infrastructure, whilst guaranteeing due respect for the applicable rules and regulations; calls on the Member States to review their procedures in this regard;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Urges the Member States and the international community to maintainboost educational institutions capable of producing skilled labour force in the areas of energy safety, security and waste managementcapacity to ensure sufficient skilled labour force and expertise are available to decarbonise Europe's energy system;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Agrees with the Commission that natural gas will be critical formight play a role in the short- term in the transformation of the energy system, since it represents a quick, temporary and cost-efficient way of reducing reliance on other more polluting fossil fuels, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions relatively in the short-term; warns, however, against any investments which could lead to locked-in dependency on any fossil fuel, including gas, and hamper the move to a truly sustainable energy system;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Believes that unconventional gas has amight have a very limited role to play in the future EU energy mix, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to take the developments and environmental aspects surrounding unconventional gas into account when formulating future energy outlook scenarios;
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underlines the importance of Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) on the road to 2050 and decarbonisation by 2050; stresses that CCS ought tomust be ready and economically viable by 2030 if fossil fuels are to remain significant in the energy mix; highlights that CCS is also an important option for the decarbonisation of several heavy industries and could, combined with biomass, deliver ‘carbon negative’ valuesenergy intensive industries such as oil refining, aluminium smelting and cement production;
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that optimal, safe and sustainable use of domestic energy resources, and the competitiveness of infrastructure necessary for the stable supply of domestic or imported energy, including refining, can contribute to increased energy security;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Underlines that greater energy efficiency would ease the management of energy distribution and transmission networks; therefore stresses that energy efficiency should be a key priority of the modernisation of energy infrastructure;
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. While recognising that the EU operates in a global context, recalls the November 2011 TTE Council Conclusions on strengthening the external dimension of the EU energy policy, the need for a broader and more coordinated EU approach to international energy relations in order to meet global energyclimate challenges and climateenergy challenges, address competitiveness and carbon leakage related issues and maintain and promote the highest nuclear safety standards, while at the same time ensuring the safe, secure and diversifiedsustainable supply of energy;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need to ensure the energy security of the EU through alternative sources of energy and to reduce import dependency through increased energy efficiency; highlights, therefore, the emerging importance of the exploration of oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea and the Arctic; believes that there is an urgent need to develop an EU policy on oil and gas drilling at sea, including delineation of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of EU Member States and relevant third countries in accordance with the UNCLOS Convention, to which all EU Member States and the EU as such are signatorieEurope's vast offshore wind and marine energy resources that in the future will greatly contribute to Europe's energy needs;
Amendment 416 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises that the granting of licensing rights for drilling and the delineation of EEZs will become a source of friction with third countries, and the EU should maintain a high political profile in this respect; underlines that energy should be used as a motor for peace, sustainable growth, cooperation and stability;
Amendment 418 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes the importance of broad cooperation in the Arctic region and the need to agree on a special regime to take due account of this region's environmental sensitivity, particularly among countries in the Euro- Atlantic sphere; calls, therefore, on the Commission to come forward with a holistic assessment of the benefits and risks of EU involvement in the Arctic;
Amendment 432 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Recognises that the ETS is currently the principal – though not the only – instrument for reducing industrialgreenhouse gas emissions and promoting investment in low carbon technologies; notes that further improvement of the ETS is necessary; notes that anyurgently needed to stabilise the carbon price and send the right signals to investors in low carbon technologies; notes that structural reform of the ETS is urgently required to address the oversupply of allowances; notes that changes to the ETS would require a carefulomprehensive assessment of the impact on low carbon investments, on the electricity prices and on the competitiveness of energy-intensiveEU industries; calls on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate the development of innovative technological solutions by European industries;
Amendment 450 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the EU to continue to play an active role in the international negotiations on the global climate deal; takes the opinion that climate diplomacy should come under the umbrella of the European External Action Service (EEAS); stresses that the EU needs to know what thunderstand what the ultimate consequences of a failure to conclude a global climate change agreement would be, and therefore to lead the currently slow negotiation process to an ambitious international agreement;
Amendment 464 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Believes that prices play a crucial role in energy-related investment and energy producchoices related to electricity generation; notes that the different Member States' policies to promote renewable energy show both successes and problemsuld be seen as a learning curve; takes the opinion that the recent relatively highvolatile and uncertain prices of fossil fuels will promote the development of renewable energy provided policy and market failures are removed; notes, however, that in some Member States the promotion of renewable energy by means of financial support could lead to high energy pricshould apply a tailored and transparent approach when setting renewable support schemes;
Amendment 483 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Believes that, while energy bills in Europe have risen in recent years, this development has given rise to a ‘smart’, common sense-based approach tost-effective approach to cut energy use through energy efficiency and energy savings; believes, regardless, that the role of ICT technologies in the area of energy efficiency is increasingly important for energy; highlights, in this context, the role of smart meters in providing consumers with realtime data on energy consumption in households and businesses and information on energy efficiency measures and possibilities;
Amendment 491 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Believes that energy infrastructure should become more end-user-oriented, with a stronger focus on the interaction between distribution system capacities and consumption, and emphasises the need for real-time, two-directional power and information flows; points out the benefits for consumers of new technologies, such as demand-side energy management and demand-response systems, that improve energy efficiency of supply and demand;
Amendment 496 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to ensure that Horizon 2020 and the European Innovation Partnerships under the Innovation Union prioritise the need to develop all types of sustainable low carbon technologies in order to spur EU competitiveness, promote job opportunities and bring about a change in consumer behaviour, meet the long-term climate change and energy targets, and bring about a change in consumer behaviour; calls therefore for at least three quarters of the energy research budget under the heading of Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy to be allocated to renewables and energy efficiency based on the priorities identified in the Strategic Energy Technologies Plan; highlights that the SET Plan should be financed through individual budget lines per technology with sufficient funds;
Amendment 509 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Stresses the importance of further research and development by public institutions and the industry into the use of natural gaalternative and renewable fuels in the road, maritime and aviation sectors;
Amendment 517 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Supports further research on cooling and heating systems with a view to executing the EU's ambitious policy; calls on public authorities to produce an underground regional impact assessment in order to optimise resource allocation between geothermal energy, shale gas and other underground resources in a sustainable manner, thereby maximising the benefits for society;