On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (‘STEP’) and amending Directive 2003/87/EC, Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Tiemo Wölken

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety calls Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to take the following into account:

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 12

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(12) Directive 2003/87/EC54 should be amended to allow for additional financing with a financial envelope for the period 2024-2027 of EUR 5 billion. The Innovation Fund supports investments in innovative low-carbon technologies, which is a scope that is to be covered by the STEP. The increase in volume of the Innovation Fund should therefore allow to provide financing responding to the objective of supporting the development or manufacturing in the Union of critical clean technologies. In line with the objectives of ensuring cohesion and promoting the Single Market, and in order to support the green transition and the development of clean technologies throughout the Union, the additional financial envelope should be made available through calls for proposals open to entities from Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017.	(12) Directive 2003/87/EC54 should be amended to allow for additional financing with a financial envelope for the period 2024-2027 of EUR 5 billion stemming from the multiannual financial framework. The Innovation Fund supports investments in innovative low-carbon technologies, which is a scope that is to be covered by the STEP. The increase in volume of the Innovation Fund should therefore allow to provide financing responding to the objective of supporting the development or manufacturing in the Union of critical clean technologies. Calls for proposals should be designed and aligned to deliver on the Union objectives set out for domestic manufacturing capacity in key industrial value chains. In line with the objectives of ensuring cohesion and promoting the Single Market, and in order to support the green and just transition and the development of clean technologies throughout the Union, 75% the additional financial envelope should be made available through calls for proposals open to entities from Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017.
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54 Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).	54 Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4. When deciding on investment projects to finance from their respective shares of the Modernisation Fund in accordance with Article 10d of Directive 2003/87/EC, Member States shall consider as a priority project for critical clean technologies which have received the Sovereignty Seal in accordance with paragraph 1. In addition, Member States may decide to grant national support to projects with a Sovereignty Seal contributing to the Platform objective referred to in Article 2(1), point (a)(ii).	4. When deciding on investment projects to finance from their respective shares of the Modernisation Fund in accordance with Article 10d of Directive 2003/87/EC, Member States shall consider as a priority project for critical clean technologies which have received the Sovereignty Seal in accordance with paragraph 1 and that particularly emphasize a just and inclusive transition. In addition, Member States may decide to grant national support to projects with a Sovereignty Seal contributing to the Platform objective referred to in Article 2(1), point (a)(ii).

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Directive 2003/87/CE

Article 10a – paragraph 8 – sub paraph 6

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In addition to the allowances referred to in the first to fifth subparagraphs of this paragraph, the Innovation Fund shall also implement a financial envelope for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027 of EUR 5 000 000 000 in current prices for supporting investments contributing to the STEP objective referred to in Article 2, point (a)(ii) of Regulation .../...63 [STEP Regulation]. This financial envelope shall be made available to support investments only in Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017	In addition to the allowances referred to in the first to fifth subparagraphs of this paragraph, the Innovation Fund shall also implement a financial envelope for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027 of EUR 5 000 000 000 in current prices, as provided in Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093, for supporting investments contributing to the STEP objective referred to in Article 2, point (a)(ii) of Regulation .../...63 [STEP Regulation]. 75% of this financial envelope shall be made available to support investments only in Member States whose average GDP per capita is below the EU average of the EU-27 measured in purchasing power standards (PPS) and calculated on the basis of Union figures for the period 2015-2017.
	In addition, in the calls for proposals dedicated for this financial envelope, special attention shall be given to the projects' ability to promote a just and inclusive transition in the Member States, while implementing the objectives and criteria of the Innovation Fund as laid down in this paragraph (i.e. Article 10a(8) of ETS-Directive) and aiming for a geographical balance of financial support.
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63 Regulation …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council … [insert full title and OJ reference].	63 Regulation …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council … [insert full title and OJ reference].