A4-0121/99

Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 88/609/EEC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants (COM(98)0415 - C4-0591/98 - 98/0225(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 3

>Original text>

(3) Whereas the Commission has recently published a Communication on a Community Strategy to combat acidification; whereas the revision of Directive 88/609/EEC was identified as being an integral component of that strategy;

>Text following EP vote>

(3)

Whereas the Commission has recently published a Communication on a Community Strategy to combat acidification; whereas the revision of Directive 88/609/EEC was identified as being an integral component of that strategy with the long-term aim of a reduction in emissions of SO2 and NOx sufficient to bring residues and concentrations down to levels below the critical loads and levels;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 4a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(4a) Whereas limit values for sulphur emissions and content are laid down in Annex V to the 1994 Oslo Protocol to the 1979 Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 14a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(14a) Whereas the Commission is requested to put forward, before the end of 2000, specific proposals for EU-wide economic instruments, targeted for reducing emissions of SO2 and NOx in the most cost-effective way; whereas any taxes or charges proposed will be minimum requirements leaving the Member States the full freedom to set higher taxes or charges, if they so wish;

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 1(1)(c)(i)

Article 2(7), 3rd paragraph (Directive 88/609/EEC)

>Original text>

(i) the following indents are added to the third paragraph:

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Deleted

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'- any technical apparatus used in the propulsion of a vehicle, ship or aircraft,

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- gas turbines used on an offshore platform.¨

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(Amendment 20)

ARTICLE 1(2a) (new)

Article 4(1) (Directive 88/609/EEC)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

2a. In Article 4, paragraph 1 is amended as follows:

"1. Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that all licences for the construction or, in the absence of such a procedure, for the operation of new plants contain conditions relating to compliance with the emission limit values fixed in Annexes III to VII in respect of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and dust. However, Member States may provide that new plants having a rated thermal input of not less than 50 MW and not more than 100 MW and licensed before the deadline for incorporation of Directive 94/66/EC into national law shall be obliged to comply with the value set in Annex III by no later than one year after that deadline.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Plants which have been granted an operating licence before 1 January 2000, including those plants whose operating licence was granted before 1 July 1987, shall by 1 January 2005 comply with the emission limit values fixed in Annexes IIIa, IVa, Va and VIa.¨

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1(3)

Article 4(2) (Directive 88/609/EEC)

>Original text>

3. In Article 4, paragraph 2 is deleted.

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3.

In Article 4, paragraph 2 is amended as follows:

"2. Before 1 July 2007, and in the light of the state of technology and environmental requirements, the Commission shall submit proposals for the revision of the limit values applicable.¨

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1(4a) (new)

Article 5(3) (Directive 88/609/EEC)

>Original text>

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4a. In Article 5, point 3 is deleted.

(Amendment 7)

ANNEX, POINT 1

Annex III (Directive 88/609/EEC)

>TABLE>

(Amendment 8)

ANNEX, POINT 1a (new)

Annex IIIa (new) (Directive 88/609/EEC)

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(Amendment 10)

ANNEX, POINT 2a (new)

Annex IVa (Directive 88/609/EEC)

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(Amendment 11)

ANNEX, POINT 3

Annex V (Directive 88/609/EEC)

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(Amendment 12)

ANNEX, POINT 3a (new)

Annex Va (new) (Directive 88/609/EEC)

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(Amendment 13)

ANNEX, POINT 4, THIRD PART

Annex VI (Directive 88/609/EEC)

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(Amendment 14)

ANNEX, POINT 4a (new)

Annex VIa (new) (Directive 88/609/EEC)

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(Amendment 15)

ANNEX, POINT 7(b)(iiia) (new)

Annex IX(B) (Directive 88/609/EEC)

>Original text>

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(iiia) The following point is added:

'Member States shall take appropriate steps to disseminate up-to-date information on total national as well as plant-by-plant total annual emissions of SO2 and NOx to the public by means of, for example, broadcast media, press, information screens or computer network services and by notification of appropriate organisations, such as environmental organisations. A list of the organisations notified shall be sent to the Commission at the same time as information transmitted under Annex IX(B) of this directive.¨

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 88/609/EEC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants (COM(98)0415 - C4-0591/98 - 98/0225(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council COM(98)0415 - 98/0225(SYN) ((OJ C 300, 29.9.1998, p. 6.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 130s(1) of the EC Treaty (C4-0591/98),

- 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 and the opinion of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (A4-0121/99),

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

2. 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;

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