Sittings · Document
DRAFT OPINION (COM(2023)0161 – C90062/2023 – 2023/0081(COD)) 2023-06-22
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act)
Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Anna DeparnayGrunenberg
AMENDMENT
The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to take the following into account:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (7a) As much as a quarter of today's EU GHG emissions is produced by the transport sector and its emissions are still increasing. In order to achieve the objectives set out in this Regulation and to realise the Union's potential for a competitive net-zero industry, the Commission and the Member States need to ensure a carbon-neutral, sustainable, reliable, and efficient system for transport of goods, components, and products, and consider the role that rail will need to play therein1a. Despite Union targets to double rail freight volume by rail to 30% by 2030, the modal split has actually worsened since 2010 (modal split in 2010: 18%, in 2020: 16.8%). The Commission should therefore evaluate the potential contributions to a competitive net-zero industry that can be achieved in the sector through a shift away from a highly energy intensive transport system and on this basis make proposals to further decarbonise the transport sector. | |
| __________________ | |
| 1a European Union Agency for Railways, 2022 [https://www.era.europa.eu/system/files/2022-10/Compelling%20vision%20for%20a%20target%20rail%20system_0.pdf] |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (10) To achieve the 2030 objectives a particular focus is needed on some of the net-zero technologies, also in view their significant contribution towards the path to net zero by 2050. These technologies include solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies, onshore and offshore renewable technologies, battery/storage technologies, heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, sustainable biogas/biomethane, carbon capture and storage technologies and grid technologies. These technologies play a key role in the Union’s open strategic autonomy, ensuring that citizens have access to clean, affordable, secure energy. Given their role, these technologies should benefit from even faster permitting procedures, obtain the status of the highest national significance possible under national law and benefit from additional support to crowd-in investments. | (10) To achieve the 2030 objectives a particular focus is needed on some of the net-zero technologies, also in view their significant contribution towards the path to net zero by 2050. These technologies include solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies, onshore and offshore renewable technologies, energy storage technologies including batteries, heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, carbon capture and storage technologies and smart grid technologies. These technologies play a key role in the Union’s open strategic autonomy, ensuring that citizens have access to clean, affordable, secure energy. Given their role, these technologies should benefit from even faster permitting procedures, obtain the status of the highest national significance possible under national law and benefit from additional support to crowd-in investments. |
Or. en
Amendment 3
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (12) In 2020 the European Commission adopted an EU strategy for energy system integration. It set out a vision on how to accelerate the transition towards a more integrated energy system, one that supports a climate neutral economy at the least cost across sectors. It encompasses three complementary and mutually reinforcing concepts: first, a more ‘circular’ energy system, with energy efficiency at its core; second, a greater direct electrification of end-use sectors; third, the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels, including hydrogen, for end-use applications where direct heating or electrification are not feasible, not efficient or have higher costs. Considerations related to energy system integration refer to solutions for fully integrating all the electricity generated by renewable energy installations into the wider energy system. This means, for instance, adopting technical solutions that allow for the integration of surplus electricity generated by renewable electricity installations, including through storage in its various forms and demand-side management. | (12) In 2020 the European Commission adopted an EU strategy for energy system integration. It set out a vision on how to accelerate the transition towards a more integrated energy system, one that supports a climate neutral economy at the least cost across sectors. It encompasses three complementary and mutually reinforcing concepts: first, a more ‘circular’ energy system, with energy efficiency at its core; second, a greater direct electrification of end-use sectors; third, the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels, including renewable hydrogen, for end-use applications where direct heating or electrification are not feasible, not efficient or have disproportionately higher costs. Considerations related to energy system integration refer to solutions for fully integrating all the electricity generated by renewable energy installations into the wider energy system. This means, for instance, adopting technical solutions that allow for the integration of surplus electricity generated by renewable electricity installations, including through storage in its various forms and demand-side management. |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 56
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (56) In addition, given the importance of Net Zero Strategic Projects for the Union’s energy supply certain administrative restrictions should be partly lifted or simplified to speed up their implementation. | (56) In addition, given the importance of Net Zero Strategic Projects for the Union’s industrial resilience, certain administrative restrictions should be simplified to speed up their implementation, whilst ensuring a high quality of potential environmental assessments. |
Or. en
Amendment 5
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| ba) that economic operators involved in the manufacturing of strategic net-zero technologies provide quality jobs with decent working conditions. |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 3. Where, based on the report referred to in Article 35, the Commission concludes that the Union is likely not to achieve the objectives set out in paragraph 1, it shall assess the feasibility and proportionality of proposing measures or exercising its powers at Union level in order to ensure the achievement of those objectives. | 3. Where, based on the report referred to in Article 35, the Commission concludes that the Union is likely not to achieve the objectives set out in paragraph 1, it shall assess the feasibility and proportionality of proposing measures or exercising its powers at Union level in order to ensure the achievement of those objectives. In particular, the Commission shall assess the possibility of establishing more tangible targets for key technologies and components in order to ensure the achievement of those objectives, including by means of delegated acts. |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| (a) ‘net-zero technologies’ means renewable energy technologies66; electricity and heat storage technologies; heat pumps; grid technologies; renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies; sustainable alternative fuels technologies67; electrolysers and fuel cells; advanced technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes with minimal waste from the fuel cycle, small modular reactors, and related best-in-class fuels; carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies; and energy-system related energy efficiency technologies. They refer to the final products, specific components and specific machinery primarily used for the production of those products. They shall have reached a technology readiness level of at least 8. | (a) ‘strategic net-zero technologies’ means the final products and specific key components thereof, belonging to the sets of technologies listed in the Annex . They shall have reached a technology readiness level of at least 8. |
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| 66 ‘renewable energy' means ‘renewable energy’ as defined in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources | |
| 67 ‘sustainable alternative fuels’ means fuels covered by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport, COM/2021/561 final and by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport COM/2021/562 final. |
Or. en
Justification
We should not grant support to fuels, and especially biofuels, because it would increase Europe's dependence on imported bio-feedstock.
Amendment 8
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 2 a. The Commission and the InvestEU Advisory hub shall provide technical and financial support to the national competent authorities and Member States to carry out the permit-granting process. |
Or. en
Justification
This, in combination with the proposed designated national competent authorities (one-stop-shops) would ensure fast tracking projects and support smoothing out processes and for the InvestEU advisory hub to provide technical assistance.
Amendment 9
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 4 a. As part of the recommendations in the Annual Reports on Competitiveness of Clean Energy Technologies, the Commission may recommend sector specific deadlines. |
Or. en
Justification
This would encourage the Commission and Member States to assess how deadlines are kept and then adapt where necessary (e.g. different length needed for wind, battery cells production or mining).
Amendment 10
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 2. All decisions adopted pursuant to this Section and Articles 12 and 13 shall be made publicly available. | 2. All decisions adopted pursuant to this Section and Articles 12, 13, 14 and 21 shall be made publicly available. |
Or. en
Amendment 11
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 2. Member States may provide administrative support to net-zero strategic projects to facilitate their rapid and effective implementation, including by providing: | 2. The Commission and the Member States may provide administrative support to net-zero strategic projects to facilitate their rapid and effective implementation, including by providing: |
Or. en
Amendment 12
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 2a. Member States shall allocate 25% of national revenues from the Emission Trading Scheme for aviation and shipping allowances until 2030 to support the production of renewable hydrogen, renewable ammonia and renewable methanol for offtake of the produced fuels by the aviation and shipping sectors as stipulated by the Regulation on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport and the Regulation on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport respectively. |
Or. en
Amendment 13
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 8
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 8. Where appropriate, the Platform or the Commission may invite experts and other third parties to Platform and sub-group meetings or to provide written contributions. | 8. Where appropriate, the Platform or the Commission may invite experts, civil society organisations, trade unions, and other third parties to Platform and sub-group meetings or to provide written contributions. |
Or. en
Amendment 14
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 4 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
| 4 a. As a part of this evaluation, the Commission shall, on the basis of the development of emissions from the transport sector and on how the objectives set out in this regulation are met, evaluate the potential contributions to a competitive net-zero industry that can still be achieved in the sector through a shift away from a highly energy intensive transport system and on this basis make proposals to further decarbonise the transport sector, in particular to ensure: | |
| - full implementation of existing EU legislation | |
| - timely fulfilment of obligations in EU Legislation | |
| - prompt follow-up with further proposals, including on sufficient financing |
Or. en
Amendment 15
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – subheading 1
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment | ||
| Strategic net-zero technologies | Strategic net-zero technologies | ||
| 1 | Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies | 1 | Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies |
| 2 | Onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies | 2 | Onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies |
| 3 | Battery/storage technologies | 3 | Battery/storage technologies, including LMT-battery cells and electric vehicle batteries |
| 4 | Heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies | 4 | Heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies |
| 5 | Electrolysers and fuel cells | 5 | Electrolysers, fuel cells , and other technologies for renewable hydrogen and RFNBO exclusively used in aviation and shipping |
| 6 | Sustainable biogas/biomethane technologies | 6 | Sustainable biogas/biomethane technologies |
| 7 | Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) technologies | 7 | Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) technologies |
| 8 | Grid technologies | 8 | Grid technologies |
| 8a | Technologies for ERTMS, digital automated coupling systems, and high and multi-systems interoperable locomotives |
Or. en