A4-0253/97

Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 93/389/EEC for a monitoring mechanism of Community CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions (COM(96)0369 - C4-0540/96 - 96/0192(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 8a (new)

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Whereas it is vital to be able to assess accurately and regularly the extent of progress being made towards the goal of meeting Community commitments to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 8b (new)

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Whereas the Community considers the monitoring mechanism to be an essential instrument in the assessment of this progress;

(Amendment 3)

ARTICLE 1(2)(b)

Article 2(2), introduction (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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2. Each Member State shall, at the latest from the first updating, include in its national programme:

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2. Each Member State shall include in its national programme:

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1(2)(b)

Article 2(2)(a), 5th indent (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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- estimates of the effects of policies and measures on emissions and removals and incorporation of these in greenhouse gas emissions' projections between the base year and 2000; and after this date, between the base year and regular intervals as being agreed upon in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 8, including information for a quantitative understanding of the key assumptions used to develop the said projections and the methodology used for the provision of the estimates,

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- estimates of the effects of policies and measures on emissions and removals and incorporation of these in greenhouse gas emissions' projections between the base year and 2000; and after this date, between the base year and 2005, and between the base year and 2010; thereafter, between the base year and regular intervals as being agreed upon in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 8, on the basis of standard procedural guidelines, including information for a quantitative understanding of the key assumptions used to develop the said projections and the methodology used for the provision of the estimates,

(Amendment 11)

ARTICLE 1(2)(b)

Article 2(2)(b), introduction (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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(b) information on the ozone precursors,

i.e. carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as on other greenhouse gas emissions, including, inter alia, perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in line with the reporting requirements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including

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(b) information on pollutants which affect the tropospheric ozone, i. e. carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as on other greenhouse gas emissions, including, inter alia, perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in line with the reporting requirements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including

(Amendment 12)

ARTICLE 1(2)(b)

Article 2(2)(b), third indent (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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- best estimates for emissions projections at regular intervals in the future and as being agreed upon in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 8, including information for a quantitative understanding of the key assumptions and the methodology used for the provision of the estimates.

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- best estimates for emissions projections at regular intervals in the future and as being agreed upon in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 8, on the basis of standard procedural guidelines, including information for a quantitative understanding of the key assumptions and the methodology used for the provision of the estimates.

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1(3)(b)(iia) (new)

Article 3(2), second subparagraph (new) (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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(iia) The following subparagraph is added:

'In addition, Member States shall also report each year on the cumulative emissions of each greenhouse gas as specified in Article 2 (2) (a), since 1990. They shall also report on their projected cumulative emissions of each greenhouse gas for each year over the periods up to 2005, 2010 and 2020.¨

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1(3)(b)(iib) (new)

Article 3(2), third subparagraph (new) (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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(iib) The following subparagraph is added:

'The Commission shall take further steps to ensure the comparability and transparency of national measurement and compilation methods; it shall take into consideration the need for a clear framework presenting common modelling guidelines for current and future Member States.¨

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1(4)

Article 5 (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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4. Article 5 is deleted.

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4. Article 5 is replaced by the following:

'Article 5

Evaluation of national programmes and of the state of emissions in the Community

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1. Member States shall forward to the Commission their existing national programmes within three months of receiving notification of this Decision.

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2. The Commission shall forward to the other Member States the national programmes received within two months of their reception.

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3. The Commission shall evaluate the national programmes, in order to assess whether progress in the Community as a whole is sufficient to ensure fulfilment of the commitments referred to in Article 2 (1).

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4. The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council the results of its evaluation within six months of the reception of the national programmes.¨

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 1(5)

Article 6 (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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The Commission shall assess annually in consultation with Member States whether progress in the Community as a whole is sufficient to ensure that the Community is on course to fulfil the commitments referred to in Article 2(1) and report to the European Parliament and the Council, on the basis of information received under Articles 2 and 3, including where appropriate the updated national programmes.

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The Commission shall assess annually in consultation with Member States whether progress in the Community as a whole is sufficient to ensure that the Community is on course to fulfil the commitments referred to in Article 2(1) and report annually to the European Parliament and the Council, on the basis of information received under Articles 2 and 3, including the updated national programmes. The Commission's report shall be made available to the European Parliament and the Council even in the case of incomplete data being received from Member States; where this is the case, reference shall be made to this absence of data in the report.

(Amendment 9)

ARTICLE 1(6a) (new)

Article 8(1) (Decision 93/389/EEC)

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6a. Article 8(1) is replaced by the following:

"1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission.¨

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 93/389/EEC for a monitoring mechanism of Community CO2 and other Greenhouse gas emissions (COM(96)0369 - C4-0540/96 - 96/0192(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(96)0369 - 96/0192(SYN) ((OJ C 314, 24.10.1996, p. 11.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty and Article 130s(1) of the EC Treaty (C4-0540/96),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0253/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.