A4-0340/98

Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a multiannual framework programme for actions in the energy sector (1998 to 2002) and connected measures (COM(97)0550 - C4-0070/98 - 97/0302(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 12)

Recital 8

>Original text>

Whereas the Community's dependence on external energy supplies is set to increase significantly in the years to come;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the Community's dependence on external energy supplies is set to increase significantly in the years to come;

whereas this should be countered primarily through the use of renewable energy sources and efficient energy technologies;

(Amendment 13)

Recital 9

>Original text>

Whereas the competitiveness of European business is heavily influenced by the level of energy costs;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the competitiveness of European business is heavily influenced by the level of energy costs

as well as by innovation in the development and exploitation of renewable energy sources and of energy-efficient technologies;

(Amendment 1)

Recital 9a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, to ensure competitive energy prices, it is essential to monitor regularly at EU level the implementation process of the two key liberalisation directives which have recently been adopted for the electricity and gas markets;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 9b (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas this monitoring process should be based on cooperation with Member State administrations and regulators, facilitating the exchange of best practices and ensuring greater transparency along the lines of the model initiated by the Commission for the internal electricity market;

(Amendment 14)

Recital 11

>Original text>

Whereas CO2 emissions must be reduced;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas CO2 emissions

and the potential risks associated with nuclear energy must be reduced;

(Amendment 15)

Recital 11a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in order to achieve this objective in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner, the goal (alongside the targeted promotion of renewable and efficient energy technologies) is to work towards a reduction in the consumption of resources and a simultaneous improvement in the employment situation, in particular through the use of fiscal instruments;

(Amendment 16)

Recital 12

>Original text>

Whereas, particularly in view of the political uncertainties involved in the external supply markets, the Community must implement a coherent, effective energy policy geared to the medium and long-term prospects for economic development;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, particularly in view of the political uncertainties involved in the external supply markets, the Community must implement a coherent, effective energy policy geared to the medium and long-term prospects for economic

and socially acceptable development;

(Amendments 18 and 3)

Recital 20

>Original text>

Whereas only a truly integrated approach will enable proper account to be taken of all the aspects of the problems to be resolved;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas only a truly integrated

and coordinated approach of Community actions in the energy field, in which all the Community's decisions on energy policy (including, in particular, those hitherto dealt with under the Euratom Treaty) are taken with the full democratic participation of the European Parliament, will enable the development of a coherent and effective energy policy which ensures that proper account is taken of all the aspects of the problems to be resolved;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 23a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas forward analyses and market monitoring are essential for the development of an adequate energy policy strategy for the medium and long term; whereas shared analyses with Member States and interested parties should be encouraged in this field;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 28a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas support for enlargement of the European Union should put a particular focus on energy, given its political, social and economic importance in most of the accession countries; whereas this should include support for the implementation of the energy acquis, greater coordination of the PHARE and international energy cooperation (SYNERGY) programmes and the opening up of the energy saving (SAVE), renewables (ALTENER) and solid fuels programmes to the accession countries, as well as closer cooperation with European and international financial institutions (EIB, EBRD, World Bank) and the implementation of the Energy Charter Treaty;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 31a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, on the basis of key energy policy indicators, regular reports should be drawn up on the implementation of the framework programme;

(Amendment 7)

Recital 34

>Original text>

Whereas some additional funding could be decided in the light of the political choices and priorities adopted;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas

the energy policy challenges which the European Union is facing in the next decade require that the budgetary appropriations for the energy framework programme be sufficient and that, in the context of the new financial perspectives, the necessary additional funding should be decided in the light of the political choices and priorities adopted;

(Amendment 8)

Recital 35

>Original text>

Whereas the funding of actions carried out in the priority areas of promotion of renewables (ALTENER programme) and energy efficiency (SAVE programme) in particular could be reviewed when the next financial perspective is drawn up;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas

in the light of the key role of energy in the strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the funding of actions carried out in the priority areas of promotion of renewables (ALTENER programme) and energy efficiency (SAVE programme) in particular could be reviewed when the next financial perspective is drawn up, in addition to an increased coordination effort in these areas with other Community policies (e.g. Structural Funds, environment and research); whereas any reduction in amounts is ruled out;

(Amendment 20)

Recital 37a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in order to place all Community decisions on energy policy on a sound, democratic legal basis, a chapter on energy giving the European Parliament full rights of codecision should be inserted into the Treaties forthwith;

(Amendment 9) *

Article 2

>Original text>

1. Notwithstanding the actions relating to energy conducted in the framework of research policy or trans-European networks respectively, the framework programme shall be implemented through six specific programmes of a horizontal or thematic nature corresponding to the following actions:

>Text following EP vote>

1.

Notwithstanding the actions relating to energy conducted in the framework of research policy or trans-European networks respectively, the framework programme shall be implemented through seven specific programmes of a horizontal or thematic nature corresponding to the following actions:

>Original text>

(a) development, in cooperation with the Member States, of a programme for regular monitoring of the evolution of the energy markets and trends, so that political decisions relating to energy can be taken on the basis of a joint analysis;

>Text following EP vote>

(a)

development, in cooperation with the Member States, of a programme for regular monitoring of the evolution of the energy markets and trends, so that political decisions relating to energy can be taken on the basis of a joint analysis;

>Original text>

(b) reinforcement, within the area of competence of the framework programme, of international cooperation in the energy field in order to encourage, firstly, greater diversification of energy sources and, secondly, greater transparency and stability of the international gas and oil markets in particular;

>Text following EP vote>

(b)

reinforcement, within the area of competence of the framework programme, of international cooperation in the energy field in order to encourage, firstly, greater diversification of energy sources and, secondly, greater transparency and stability of the international gas and oil markets in particular;

>Original text>

(c) promotion of new and renewable energy sources and implementation of a Community strategy and action plan for renewable energy sources to the year 2010;

>Text following EP vote>

(c)

promotion of new and renewable energy sources and implementation of a Community strategy and action plan for renewable energy sources to the year 2010;

>Original text>

(d) encouragement of rational and efficient use of energy sources;

>Text following EP vote>

(d)

encouragement of rational and efficient use of energy sources, including the promotion of combined heat and power;

>Original text>

(e) regeneration of the coal sector, notably through the use of environmentally compatible technologies;

>Text following EP vote>

(e)

regeneration of the coal sector through the use of environmentally compatible technologies;

>Original text>

(f) safer use of nuclear energy;

>Text following EP vote>

(f)

safer use of nuclear energy;

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(fa) monitoring the implementation of the electricity and gas directive by Member States through:

- monitoring reciprocity,

- reporting to the Council and the European Parliament on the development of energy trade amongst the Member States,

- checking the level playing field amongst the actors in the energy sector,

- reporting on market barriers in Member States amongst other competition-distorting measures.

>Original text>

2. Each specific programme, the duration of which will coincide with the period of application of this framework programme, shall set out the arrangements for its implementation;

>Text following EP vote>

2.

Each specific programme, the duration of which will coincide with the period of application of this framework programme, shall set out the arrangements for its implementation;

>Original text>

3. Implementation of the framework programme may give rise, within its area of competence, to additional programmes and Community participation in programmes undertaken by several Member States. It may also lead to cooperation with third countries or international organisations.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

Implementation of the framework programme may give rise, within its area of competence, to additional programmes and Community participation in programmes undertaken by several Member States. It may also lead to cooperation with third countries or international organisations.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

3a. The Commission shall take initiatives to strengthen the coherence of the EU energy policy in relation to environmental policies, energy taxation, Structural Funds, research and development, the implementation of the partnership agreements with Central and Eastern European countries and the Energy Charter Treaty.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Moreover, the Commission will cooperate more closely with the European and international financial institutions (EIB, EBRD, World Bank) to implement the EU energy policy.

(Amendment 11)

Article 5(1)

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall examine each year the state of implementation of the framework programme and its specific programmes. It shall assess the overall effectiveness of the framework programme and its contribution to the objectives of Community policy. It shall also assess whether the objectives, priorities and financial resources are still appropriate to the changing situation. If necessary, it shall submit proposals to adapt or supplement the framework programme and/or the specific programmes.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a regular report on the state of implementation of the framework programme and its specific programmes. It shall assess the overall effectiveness of the framework programme and its contribution to the objectives of Community policy. On the basis of the evolution of the main indicators of energy policy, it shall also assess whether the objectives, priorities and financial resources are still appropriate to the changing situation. If necessary, it shall submit proposals to adapt or supplement the framework programme and/or the specific programmes.

(Amendment 23)

Article 5(3)

>Original text>

3. The independent experts referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be chosen by the Commission in a balanced fashion.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

The independent experts referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be chosen by the Commission in a balanced fashion, taking account of all relevant forces in society.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a multiannual framework programme for actions in the energy sector (1998 to 2002) and connected measures (COM(97)0550 - C4-0070/98 - 97/0302 (CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(97)0550 - 97/0302(CNS) ((OJ C 46, 11.2.1998, p. 7.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 235 of the EC Treaty (C4-0070/98),

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

- having regard to its resolution of 14 November 1996 on the White Paper on "an energy policy for the European Union¨ ((OJ C 362, 2.12.1996, p. 279.)), in which it largely supported the policy priorities set out for the Community¨s energy policy,

- having regard to its resolution of 18 December 1997 on the Commission communication on an "overall view of energy policy and actions¨ ((OJ C 14, 19.1.1998, p. 178.)) in which it reaffirmed its support for the drawing up of an energy framework programme contributing to clarifying and focusing Community actions in this field,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0340/98),

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 Treaty;

3. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

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

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