Proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community - Altener II (97/C 192/07) (Text with EEA relevance) COM(97) 87 final - 97/0106(SYN)

(Submitted by the Commission on 22 May 1997)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130s (1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty, in cooperation with the European Parliament,

(1) Whereas Article 130r of the Treaty lays down that one of the objectives of the Community action is to ensure prudent and rational utilization of natural resources;

(2) Whereas Article 129 of the Treaty lays down that health protection requirements shall form a constituent part of Community's other policies; whereas the Altener programme contributes to health protection;

(3) Whereas, at its meeting on 29 October 1990, the Council announced its objective of stabilizing total CO2 emissions by 2000 at the 1990 level in the Community as a whole;

(4) Whereas a mechanism for monitoring CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions was established by Council Decision 93/389/EEC (1);

(5) Whereas CO2 emissions from energy consumption in the Community are likely to increase by about 3 % between 1995 and 2000, assuming normal economic growth; whereas it is, therefore, essential to adopt additional measures;

(6) Whereas, at its meeting on 25 and 26 June 1996, the Council noted that in the framework of negotiations seeking a protocol according to the Berlin Mandate, the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had concluded that the balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate change and had stressed the need for urgent action at the widest possible level, noted that significant 'no-regrets` opportunities were available and requested the Commission to identify which measures have to be taken at Community level;

(7) Whereas with the Green Paper of 11 January 1995 (2) and the White Paper of 13 December 1995 (3) the Commission communicated to the European Parliament and the Council its views on the future of energy policy in the Community and on the role that renewable energy sources should play;

(8) Whereas in its resolution of 4 July 1996 (4) the European Parliament calls on the Commission to implement a Community action plan to promote renewable energy sources;

(9) Whereas with the Green Paper of 20 November 1996 (5), Energy for the Future: Renewable sources of energy, the Commission started a process for the development and further implementation of a Community strategy and an action plan on renewable energy sources (RES);

(10) Whereas in its resolution of 14 November 1996 (6) on the White Paper of the Commission 'An energy policy for the European Union` the European Parliament calls on the Commission to establish a financial programme aimed at promoting sustainable energy;

(11) Whereas Article 130a of the Treaty provides that the Community shall develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic and social cohesion and that, in particular, it shall aim at reducing disparities between the various regions and especially the backwardness of the least-favoured regions; whereas those actions cover inter alia the energy sector;

(12) Whereas by Decision 93/500/EEC (7) the Council adopted a Community programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources 'Altener` aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by increasing the market share of renewable energy sources and its contribution to overall primary energy production in the Community; whereas that programme ends on 31 December 1997;

(13) Whereas the Community has recognized that the Altener programme represents an important element of the Community strategy for reducing CO2 emissions;

(14) Whereas European Parliament and Council Decision No 1110/94/EC (8), as amended by Decision No 616/96/EC (9), has established a fourth framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration projects; whereas policy in the field of renewable energy sources is an important instrument for the use and promotion of the new energy technologies that the framework programme will develop; whereas the Altener II programme is an instrument which complements that programme;

(15) Whereas the increased use of renewable energy sources will have a positive effect both on the environment and on security of energy supplies; whereas a high degree of international cooperation is desirable to achieve the best results;

(16) Whereas a strengthened Altener II programme represents an essential instrument for developing the potential of renewable energy sources;

(17) Whereas in implementing the programme, there should be close cooperation with other Community actions and programmes also concerned with promoting renewable energy sources;

(18) Whereas it is politically and economically desirable to open the Altener II programme to the associated Central and East European countries in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council meeting in Copenhagen on 21 and 22 June 1993, and as outlined in the communication on this subject presented to the Council by the Commission in May 1994, and also to Cyprus,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. A five-year programme of measures and actions to promote renewable energy sources in the Community, called Altener II, hereinafter referred to as 'the programme` is hereby established.

The objectives of the programme shall be to:

(a) help create the necessary conditions for the implementation of a Community action plan for renewable energy sources, and in particular the legal, socioeconomic and administrative conditions, and to

(b) encourage private and public investments in the production and use of energy from renewable sources.

The objectives contribute to achieving the overall Community objectives and concerns of limiting CO2 emissions, increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the energy balance, reducing energy import dependence, ensuring the security of energy supply, and fostering economic development, economic and social cohesion and regional and local development.

2. Community financial support shall be granted under the programme for actions meeting the objectives set out in paragraph 1.

3. The annual appropriations for the implementation of the programme shall be authorized by the budget authority within the limits of the financial perspectives.

Article 2

1. The following actions and measures relating to renewable energy sources shall be financed under the programme:

(a) studies and other actions, intended to implement and complement Community measures taken to develop the potential of renewable energy sources. These include the development of sectorial and market strategies, the development of norms and standards, grouped procurement and the analysis of the legal, socioeconomic and administrative conditions which are more favourable to the market penetration of renewable energies and the preparation of appropriate legislation;

(b) pilot actions aimed at creating or extending infrastructures and instruments for the development of renewable energy sources in:

- local and regional planning,

- the tools for planning, design and evaluation,

- new financial and market instruments,

- information,

- education and training;

(c) measures proposed by the Commission to encourage the exchange of experience and know-how aimed at improving coordination between international, Community, national, regional and local activities; establishment of a centralized system for collecting, prioritizing and circulating information and know-how on renewable energy sources;

(d) measures to encourage the exchange of experience and know-how, proposed by an entity other than the Commission;

(e) targeted actions facilitating the market penetration of renewable energy sources and encouraging investment, by assisting the preparation and presentation of implementation projects.

(f) actions intended to:

- monitor the implementation of the Community strategy and action plan for the development of renewable energy sources,

- support initiatives taken in implementing the action plan, particularly with a view to promoting better coordination and greater synergy between actions, including all Community funded activities,

- monitor the progress achieved by the Community and its Member States with regard to the development of renewable energy sources,

- evaluate the impact and cost effectiveness of measures undertaken under this programme. This evaluation shall also take into account the environmental and social aspects.

2. The aim of the targeted actions referred to in point (e) of paragraph 1 is to facilitate and accelerate investment in new operational capacity for the production of energy from renewable sources by providing financial support in order to reduce the peripheral and services costs of renewable energy projects, and thus overcome the non-technical obstacles present.

This action shall promote, inter alia: access to specialized advice, analysis of market prospects, choice of location of projects, application for construction and operation permits, establishment of financing plan, preparation of calls for tender, training of operators, and plant commissioning.

The targeted actions shall concern projects carried out in the following areas:

- biomass, including energy crops, fire wood, residues from forestry and agriculture, municipal waste, liquid biofuels and biogas,

- thermal and photovoltaic solar systems,

- passive and active solar systems in buildings,

- small scale (< 10 MW) hydroelectric projects,

- wind power,

- geothermal energy.

Article 3

1. All costs relating to the actions and measures referred to in points (a), (c) and (f) of Article 2 (1) shall be borne by the Community.

2. The level of funding under this programme for the actions and measures referred to in points (b) and (d) of Article 2 (1) may not exceed 50 % of their total cost, the balance being made up from either public or private sources or a combination of the two.

3. The level of funding under this programme for the actions and measures referred to in Article 2 (e) shall be established annually for each of the targeted actions in accordance with Article 4 (2).

Article 4

1. The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme.

2. The conditions and guidelines applicable to funding for the actions and measures referred to in Article 2 (1) shall be defined annually, regard being had to:

(a) the priorities set out by the Community and the Member States in their programmes for the promotion of renewable energy sources;

(b) criteria relating to the profitability and development potential of renewable energy sources and their effects on employment and the environment, in particular the reduction of CO2 emissions;

(c) for the actions referred to in point (e) of Article 2 (1), the relative cost of the assistance, the new production capacity expected to arise and the extent of transregional and/or transnational benefits;

(d) the principles established in Article 92 of the Treaty and the relevant Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection.

The Committee referred to in Article 5 shall assist the Commission in defining these conditions and guidelines.

Article 5

The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote.

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes: in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.

The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.

Article 6

1. During the second year of the programme, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, on the measures taken to promote renewable energy sources at the level of the Community and of the Member States, with reference in particular to the objectives set out in Article 1. This report shall be accompanied by proposals for any amendments to the programme which may be necessary in the light of those results.

2. On expiry of the programme, the Commission shall assess the results obtained from the application of this Decision and the consistency of national and Community actions. It shall present a report thereon to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Article 7

The programme shall be open to participation by associated Central and East European Countries (CEECs) in accordance with the conditions, including financial provisions, laid down in the additional protocols to the Association Agreements, or in the Association Agreements themselves, relating to participation in Community programmes. The programme shall also be open to participation by Cyprus on the basis of additional appropriations, under the same rules as those applied to EFTA/EEA countries, in accordance with procedures to be agreed with those countries.

Article 8

This Decision shall apply from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2002.

Article 9

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

(1) OJ No L 167, 9. 7. 1993, p. 31.

(2) COM(94) 659 of 11. 1. 1995.

(3) COM(95) 682 of 13. 12. 1995.

(4) OJ No C 211, 22. 7. 1996, p. 27.

(5) COM(96) 576 final of 20. 11. 1996.

(6) OJ No C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 279.

(7) OJ No L 235, 18. 9. 1993, p. 41.

(8) OJ No L 126, 18. 5. 1994, p. 1.

(9) OJ No L 86, 4. 4. 1996, p. 69.