A4-0350/96

Decision on the common position of the Council on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the European Union - SAVE II (COM(95)0225 - C4-0375/96 - 95/0131(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0375/96 - 95/0131(SYN) ((OJ C 264, 11.9.1996, p. 46.)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 141, 13.5.1996, p. 26. )) on the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(95)0225) ((OJ C 346, 23.12.1995, p. 14.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0350/96),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 2)

Recital 10a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(10a) Whereas the SAVE programme has not achieved the major objective of improving energy intensity of final demand and energy efficiency;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 12

>Original text>

(12) Whereas the SAVE II programme aims at improving energy intensity of final consumption by a further one percentage point per annum over that which would have been otherwise attained;

>Text following EP vote>

(12) Whereas the SAVE II programme aims at improving energy intensity of final consumption by a further 1.5 percentage points per annum over that which would have been otherwise attained;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 18

>Original text>

(18) Whereas the SAVE II programme is an important and necessary instrument for promoting increased energy efficiency;

>Text following EP vote>

(18) Whereas a strengthened SAVE II programme is an important and necessary instrument for promoting increased energy efficiency;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 19

>Original text>

(19) Whereas, in order to prevent duplication and to achieve synergy, care should be taken in implementing the programme to ensure close cooperation with other Community programmes linked directly with energy efficiency promotion;

>Text following EP vote>

(19) Whereas, in order to prevent duplication of effort and to achieve synergy, care must be taken in implementing the programme to ensure close coordination with the ALTENER, THERMIE and SYNERGY programmes, especially with regard to the dissemination of information and the use of multi-media;

(Amendment 6)

Recital 22

>Original text>

(22) Whereas a financial reference amount within the meaning of point 2 of the Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 19951, is included in this decision for the entire duration of the programme, without thereby affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the Treaty;

______________

1 OJ C 293, 8.11.1995, p. 4.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 7)

Recital 23

>Original text>

(23) Whereas, before the end of 1997, the financial reference amount for the remaining period of the programme should be reviewed, on the basis of a study carried out by the Commission on the coordination of all the relevant programmes in the energy sector;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 8)

Article 1(1)

>Original text>

1. The Community shall support a five-year programme for the preparation and implementation of measures and actions in a cost-effective manner in order to promote energy efficiency within the Community. The general overall objectives of this programme are:

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Community shall support a five-year programme for the preparation and implementation of legislative and non-legislative measures and actions by issuing additional legal provisions to those issued under SAVE I in order to promote energy efficiency within the Community. The general overall objectives of this programme are:

>Original text>

(a) to stimulate energy efficiency measures in all sectors;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) to promote energy efficiency, inter alia, in transport, the building sector and electrical appliances, and to increase it further,

>Original text>

(b) to encourage investments in energy conservation by private and public consumers and by industry;

(c) to create the conditions for improving the energy intensity of final consumption.

>Text following EP vote>

(b) to encourage increased investment in energy conservation by private and public consumers and by industry,

(c) to create the conditions for improving the energy intensity of final demand by a further 1.5 percentage points per annum over that which would have been otherwise attained.

(Amendment 9)

Article 2

>Original text>

Under the programme, the following categories of actions and measures on energy efficiency shall be financed:

>Text following EP vote>

Under the programme, the following categories of actions and measures on energy efficiency, which are described in detail in Annex I of this Decision, shall be financed:

>Original text>

(a) studies and other related actions aimed at the implementation and completion of Community measures (such as voluntary agreements, mandates to standardization bodies, cooperative procurements and legislation) taken to improve energy efficiency, studies concerning the effects of energy pricing on energy efficiency, and studies with a view to establishing energy efficiency as a criterion within Community programmes;

>Text following EP vote>

(a) studies and other related actions aimed at the implementation and completion of Community measures (such as voluntary agreements, mandates to standardization bodies, cooperative procurements and legislation) taken to improve energy efficiency, studies concerning the effects of energy pricing on energy efficiency, and studies with a view to establishing energy efficiency as a criterion within Community programmes;

>Text following EP vote>

(aa) studies and other actions providing a basis for statements as to which energy sources, in the interests of efficiency and the least possible pollution, should be used for which purposes;

>Original text>

(b) sectoral targeted pilot actions aimed at accelerating energy efficiency investment and/or improving energy use patterns, to be carried out by organizations or public and private enterprises as well as by existing Community-wide networks or temporary groupings of organizations and/or enterprises formed to accomplish the projects;

>Text following EP vote>

(b) sectoral targeted pilot actions aimed at accelerating energy efficiency investment and/or improving energy use patterns, to be carried out by organizations or public and private enterprises as well as by Community- wide networks or temporary groupings of organizations and/or enterprises formed to accomplish the projects;

>Text following EP vote>

(ba) studies on the implications of measures proposed by the Council, the Commission or the European Parliament, for example on EU tax legislation, for the objectives of the SAVE programme;

>Original text>

(c) measures proposed by the Commission to foster the exchange of experience aimed at promoting better coordination between international, Community, national, regional and local activities by appropriate means for information dissemination;

>Text following EP vote>

(c) measures proposed by the Commission to foster the exchange of experience, mainly through information networks, aimed at promoting better coordination between Community, international, national, regional and local activities through the establishment of appropriate means for exchanging information;

>Original text>

(d) measures as under c) but proposed otherwise than by the Commission;

>Text following EP vote>

(d) measures as under c) but proposed otherwise than by the Commission;

>Original text>

(e) monitoring of energy efficiency progress in the Community and in individual Member States and ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the actions and measures undertaken under the programme;

>Text following EP vote>

(e) an action relating to detailed sectoral monitoring of energy efficiency progress in the Community and in individual Member States and ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the actions and measures undertaken under the programme, with actual measurements (for example, energy auditing) before and after the implementation of measures, interventions, incentives, etc;

>Original text>

(f) specific actions in favour of energy management at regional and urban level and in favour of greater cohesion between Member States and regions in the field of energy efficiency.

>Text following EP vote>

(f) specific actions in favour of greater cohesion between Member States and regions in the field of energy efficiency through support for the creation of energy efficiency infrastructures in those Member States and regions where energy efficiency policies are not yet sufficiently developed;

>Text following EP vote>

(fa) specific actions in favour of energy management at the regional and urban level; such actions shall include, inter alia, an improvement in the energy efficiency of primary energy production units causing environmental pollution, a reduction in the consequences for local consumers and the utilization of the existing potential of production units;

>Text following EP vote>

(fb) studies and other actions in support of energy efficiency initiatives, within other programmes, with a view to establishing energy efficiency as a criterion within Community strategic programmes taking account of the environmental pollution caused by the relevant primary energy source;

>Text following EP vote>

(fc) evaluation and monitoring of the actions and measures undertaken under points (a) to (fb).

(Amendment 10)

Article 3

>Original text>

1. All the costs relating to the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(a), (c) and (e) shall be borne by the general budget of the European Communities.

>Text following EP vote>

1. All the costs relating to the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(a), (aa), (ba), (c), (e), (fb) and (fc) shall be borne by the budget of the Community.

>Original text>

2. The level of funding for the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(b), (d) and (f) shall be set at a maximum of 50% of their total cost.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The level of funding for the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(b), (d), (f) and (fa) shall be set at a maximum of 50% of their total cost.

>Original text>

3. The balance of the funding of the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(b), (d) and (f) may be made up from either public or private sources or from a combination of the two.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The balance of the funding of the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(b), (d), (f) and (fa) may be made up from either public or private sources or from a combination of the two.

(Amendment 11)

Article 4

>Original text>

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme shall be ECU 45 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorized by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspectives.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

2. Before the end of 1997, the Council, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty, shall review the financial reference amount for the remaining period of the programme, on the basis of a communication and, if appropriate, proposals from the Commission taking into account all the relevant programmes in the energy sector.

(Amendment 12)

Article 5

>Original text>

1. The Commission will be responsible for the financial execution and implementation of the programme. The Commission will also ensure that actions under this programme are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation, which, on completion of the project, shall include assessment of impact, implementation and whether their original objectives have been achieved.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission will be responsible for the financial execution and implementation of the programme at Community level, in accordance with Article 205 of the Treaty. The Commission will also ensure that actions under this programme are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation, which, on completion of the project, shall include assessment of impact, implementation and whether their original objectives have been achieved. The financial resources shall be allocated in the most balanced manner possible throughout the duration of the programme.

>Original text>

2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit a report to the Commission on a six- month basis and on completion.

>Text following EP vote>

2. The selected beneficiaries shall submit a report to the Commission on a six- month basis and on completion.

>Original text>

3. The conditions and guidelines to be applied for the support of all actions and measures referred to in Article 2 shall be defined each year taking into account:

- the cost effectiveness criteria, the savings potential and environmental impact, in particular the reduction of CO2 emissions;

- the list of priorities referred to in Article 7;

- the cohesion of Member States in the field of energy efficiency.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The conditions and guidelines to be applied for the support of all actions and measures referred to in Article 2 shall be defined each year in accordance with cost effectiveness criteria and the criteria of energy-saving potential and/or environmental pollution up to the year 2010, the list of priorities referred in the second paragraph of Article 7, the achievement of coordination between the Member States in the field of energy efficiency, the trends in energy efficiency identified by the action described in Article 2(e) and according to the procedure laid down in Article 7.

>Original text>

The Committee referred to in Article 6(2) will assist the Commission in defining these conditions and guidelines.

(Amendment 13)

Article 6

>Original text>

1. In cases where the amount involved does not exceed ECU 100 000, the following shall apply:

>Original text>

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

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature composed of the representatives for each Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

>Original text>

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.

>Text following EP vote>

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.

>Original text>

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.

>Text following EP vote>

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

>Original text>

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.

>Text following EP vote>

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.

>Original text>

2. In cases where the amount involved exceeds ECU 100 000, the following shall apply:

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of the 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. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The Chairman shall not vote.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall be communicated by the Commission to the Council forthwith. In that event:

- the Commission may defer application of the measures which it has decided for a period of not more than one month from the date of such communication;

- the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a different decision within the time limit referred to in the previous indent.

(Amendment 14)

Article 7

>Text following EP vote>

The Member States shall report to the Commission annually before 1 March on national energy efficiency programmes with a view to assisting the Commission in formulating appropriate flanking measures.

>Original text>

The Commission shall formulate, on an annual basis, a list of priorities for funding under the programme. This list shall take into account the complementarity between the SAVE II programme and the national programmes on the basis of annual information in a summary form supplied by each Member State. A priority shall be given to those areas where such complementarity is greatest.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall formulate on an annual basis a list of priorities for funding under the programme which shall reflect an examination of the reports submitted under the first paragraph. This list shall take into account the complementarity between the SAVE II programme and the national programmes.

>Original text>

The Committee referred to in Article 6(2) will assist the Commission in defining the list of priorities.

>Text following EP vote>

The Committee referred to in Article 6 will assist the Commission in defining the list of priorities.

(Amendment 15)

Annex I (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Annex I

Description of the actions listed in Article 2:

Article 2(a):

These shall include, in particular, studies concerning the introduction of EC legislative provisions in the following areas:

- an energy certificate for buildings,

- insulation for new buildings,

- the promotion of third-party funding of energy-saving investments,

- regular checks on boilers,

- minimum standards for electrically-operated office machinery (in particular computers/screens) and other household appliances,

- the coupling of power and heating,

- minimum standards for motor vehicles.

>Text following EP vote>

Furthermore, plans will be drawn up, inter alia, for assessing the effects of EC energy legislation and other measures, for the commissioning of CEN/CENELEC in respect of standards for energy consumption applications and for studies for the development of voluntary agreements on objectives and the monitoring thereof and involvement in internationally coordinated activities. Finally, targeted research is to be undertaken aimed at reducing private and commercial individual transport in conurbations accompanied by a survey of the studies already carried out on this subject by governmental and non-governmental organizations worldwide.

>Text following EP vote>

Article 2(b):

These concern in particular ad hoc actions through closer cooperation between the key players by means of Community-wide networks; for example, projects by associations in the building sector (for instance, associations of architects), by undertakings/associations in the electricity and/or gas sectors (for example, integrated planning of resources) and by municipal associations (for example, projects to increase energy efficiency in urban transport).

>Text following EP vote>

As far as actions of public or private enterprises are concerned:

This is particularly aimed at promoting projects addressing the relevant problems on the basis of one particular theme, for example obstacles to the coupling of power and heat or problems involving municipal transport systems; projects which demonstrate in an exemplary manner the possibility of substantially restricting, or even dispensing with, individual urban transport; a project which demonstrates how stations and railway buildings can be restructured in an energy-saving manner (for example, the utilization of greater roof areas for the application of solar energy collectors). Furthermore, projects concerned with electricity consumption and the development and more widespread use of new financial mechanisms and training and education could be promoted in this context.

>Text following EP vote>

Article 2(c) and (d):

As regards the dissemination of information via networks, specific groups of addressees, or consumers in general, should be reached by all the available media (publications, videos, workshops, conferences and seminars and databases).

>Text following EP vote>

Article 2(e):

An independent group of experts should be set up in this context to monitor the utilization of the instruments developed under SAVE I and to assess progress as regards energy efficiency.

>Text following EP vote>

Article 2(f):

This action is designed to promote ties between the various Member States or the regions of various Member States with a view the exchanges of information. Furthermore, the requisite sources of information (including databases) should be established to allow access to information via local initiatives. Finally, regional centres of excellence should be set up to act as centres for local energy management research and training activities and to contribute to the development of solutions as regards the use of regional sources of energy.

>Text following EP vote>

Article 2(fa):

This concerns actions to complement the actions listed under Article 2(f), the emphasis being on the establishment of regional and local energy management agencies. These could play a back-up role for example, in the establishment of educational programmes for end users or in the development of local energy management initiatives.

>Text following EP vote>

Article 2(fb):

The purpose here is, by using SAVE as a catalyst in other Community programmes such as the European Regional Development Fund, to identify potential energy efficiency projects which can be supported by these programmes.