Legislative resolution embodying Parliament' s opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community - SAVE II (COM(95)0225 - C4- 0603/95 - 95/0131(SYN)) (Cooperation procedure: first reading)
Date: 1996-04-16
Institutions: Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, European Parliament
Subjects: energy consumption, energy production, energy saving, energy use













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51996AP0088

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament' s opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community - SAVE II (COM(95)0225 - C4- 0603/95 - 95/0131(SYN)) (Cooperation procedure: first reading)  


Official Journal C 141 , 13/05/1996 P. 0026 





A4-0088/96Proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community - SAVE II (COM(95)0225 - C4- 0603/95 - 95/0131(SYN))The proposal was approved with the following amendments:(Amendment 1)Recital 4>Original text>Whereas nonetheless, despite efforts made, the Co2 emissions in the Community generated by energy consumption are expected to increase by 5 to 8% between 1995 and 2000, assuming normal economic growth;>Text following EP vote>Whereas nonetheless, the Co2 emissions in the Community generated by energy consumption are expected to increase by 5 to 8% between 1995 and 2000, assuming normal economic growth; whereas therefore additional legislative and non- legislative measures at European level and at the level of the Member States are indispensable;(Amendment 2)Recital 6>Original text>Whereas the improvement in the management of energy will have a positive effect on the environment, the security of energy supply and sustainable development,>Text following EP vote>Whereas the improvement in the management of energy is urgently needed in order to have a positive effect on the environment, and to contribute to the security of energy supply and sustainable development;(Amendment 3)Recital 7>Original text>Whereas the Commission has communicated to the Council by means of the Green Paper of 11 January 1995 its views on the future of energy policy in the Community, and the role of energy-saving and energy efficiency measures;>Text following EP vote>Whereas the Commission has communicated to the Council and the European Parliament by means of the Green Paper of 11 January 1995 and the White Paper of 13 December 1995 its views on the future of energy policy in the Community, and the role of energy-saving and energy efficiency measures;(Amendment 4)Recital 10a (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas the SAVE programme has not achieved the major objective of improving energy intensity of final demand and energy efficiency;(Amendment 5)Recital 10b (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas legislation is the most cost-effective way of improving energy intensity of final demand and energy efficiency;(Amendment 6)Recital 12>Original text>Whereas the Council of Environment Ministers at their meeting of 15 and 16 December 1994 stated that the target of stabilizing CO2 emissions can only be achieved by a coordinated package of measures to improve energy efficiency and the rational use of energy which are based on supply and demand at all levels of energy production, conversion, transport and consumption and to exploit renewable energies, and that a local energy management programme should be one of these measures;>Text following EP vote>Whereas the Council of Environment Ministers at their meeting of 15 and 16 December 1994 stated that the target of stabilizing CO2 emissions can only be achieved by a coordinated package of measures to improve energy efficiency and the rational use of energy which are based on supply and demand at all levels of energy production, conversion, transport and consumption and to exploit renewable energies; whereas such measures include local energy management programmes;(Amendment 7)Recital 12a (new)>Text following EP vote>Whereas, in its resolution of 10 October 1995 on the Green Paper 'For a European Union energy policy¨1 the European Parliament demanded, inter alia, the establishment of objectives and the drawing-up of a common programme with a view to energy efficiency and energy savings in keeping with the objectives of reducing the greenhouse effect gases, as agreed on in Rio de Janeiro (1992) and Berlin (1995); whereas it also appealed for the SAVE II programme to be endowed with considerably more resources than SAVE I and for a clarification of the role which the Commission intends to play in energy savings and in improving energy efficiency by the drawing-up of practical projects;1 OJ C 287, 30.10.1995, p. 34.(Amendment 8)Recital 13>Original text>Whereas improved energy efficiency will have a positive impact on both the environment and the security of energy supplies which are global in nature; whereas a high level of international cooperation is desirable to produce the most positive results;>Text following EP vote>Whereas improved energy efficiency will have a positive impact on both the environment and the security of energy supplies which are global in nature; whereas a high level of international cooperation is needed to produce the most positive results;(Amendment 9)Recital 15>Original text>Whereas between 180 and 200 million tonnes of CO2 emissions could be avoided by the year 2000 by an improvement of 5% in the energy intensity of final demand additional to the conventional expectations;>Text following EP vote>Whereas between 180 and 200 million tonnes of CO2 emissions could be avoided by the year 2000 by an improvement of 5% in the energy intensity of final demand additional to the conventional expectations; whereas such figures could be increased by a proper shift in the use of energy sources;(Amendment 10)Recital 16>Original text>Whereas a strengthened SAVE II programme is an important and necessary instrument for promoting increased energy efficiency;>Text following EP vote>Whereas a strengthened SAVE II programme is an important and necessary instrument for promoting increased energy efficiency; whereas one of the main points of the programme is the drafting of Community legal provisions since the progress achieved under the SAVE I programme in terms of improved energy efficiency is primarily due to Community legislative acts providing for the implementation of binding provisions by the Member States;(Amendment 11)Recital 16a (new)>Text following EP vote>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 12)Recital 17>Original text>Whereas it is politically desirable to open the SAVE II programme to the associated Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council meeting in Copenhagen in June 1994, and as outlined on the Commission communication to the Council on the subject in May 1994;>Text following EP vote>Whereas it is politically and economically desirable to open the SAVE II programme to the associated Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) and the associated Mediterranean countries in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council meeting in Copenhagen in June 1994, and as outlined in the Commission communication to the Council on the subject in May 1994;(Amendment 13)Recital 18>Original text>Whereas, since the budget for the SAVE II programme is reserved only for participants from the Member States, the appropriations required for the participation of the associated CEECs in the programme will be made available from other Community resources;>Text following EP vote>Whereas, since the budget for the SAVE II programme is reserved only for participants from the Member States, the appropriations required for the participation of the associated CEECs and the associated Mediterranean countries in the programme or for their utilization of the programme's results will be made available in other ways, inter alia from other Community resources;(Amendment 14)Article 1(1)>Original text>1. The Community shall support a five-year programme of measures and actions in order to promote energy efficiency within the Community. The general overall objectives of this programme are to stimulate energy efficiency measures and increased levels of investment for energy saving, and to contribute to improving the energy intensity of final demand by a further percentage point per annum over that which would have been otherwise attained.>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:(a) to promote energy efficiency, inter alia, in transport, the building sector and electrical appliances, and to increase it further,>Text following EP vote>(b) to encourage increased investment in energy conservation by private and public consumers and by industry,>Text following EP vote>(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 15)Article 2, introduction>Original text>Under the programme, the following categories of actions and measures on energy efficiency policy shall be financed:>Text following EP vote>Under the programme, the following categories of actions and measures on energy efficiency policy, which are described in detail in Annex I of this Decision and for which an indicative breakdown in percentage terms is given in Annex II, shall be financed:(Amendment 16)Article 2(a)>Original text>(a) studies and other actions, leading to the implementation and completion of Community legislation and performance standards governing energy efficiency;>Text following EP vote>(a) studies and other actions, leading to the implementation and completion of additional Community legislation and performance standards governing energy efficiency with particular emphasis on energy standards in transport and energy standards for electricity equipment;(Amendment 17)Article 2(aa) (new)>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;(Amendment 18)Article 2(ba) (new)>Text following EP vote>(ba) targeted sectoral pilot actions aimed at accelerating energy efficiency investment with a view to switching from one source of energy to another;(Amendment 19)Article 2(ca) (new)>Text following EP vote>(ca) 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;(Amendment 20)Article 2(f)>Original text>(f) an action relating to detailed sectoral monitoring of energy efficiency progress in the Community, in individual Member States and including the programme itself;>Text following EP vote>(f) an action relating to detailed sectoral monitoring of energy efficiency progress in the Community, in individual Member States and including the programme itself, with actual measurements (for example, energy auditing) before and after the implementation of measures, interventions, incentives, etc;(Amendment 21)Article 2(h)>Original text>(h) specific actions in favour of energy management at the regional and urban level;>Text following EP vote>(h) 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;(Amendment 22)Article 2(i)>Original text>(i) 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;>Text following EP vote>(i) 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;(Amendment 23)Article 3(1)>Original text>1. All the costs relating to the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(a), (d), (f), (i) and (j) shall be borne by the budget of the Community.>Text following EP vote>1. All the costs relating to the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(a), (aa), (ca), (d), (f), (i) and (j) shall be borne by the budget of the Community.(Amendment 24)Article 3(2)>Original text>2. The level of funding for the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(b), (c), (e), (g) and (h) 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), (ba), (c), (e), (g) and (h) shall be set at a maximum of 50% of their total cost.(Amendment 25)Article 3(3)>Original text>3. The balance of the funding of the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(b), (c), (e), (g) and (h) 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), (ba), (c), (e), (g) and (h) may be made up from either public or private sources or from a combination of the two.(Amendment 26)Article 4(1)>Original text>1. The Commission will be responsible for the financial execution and implementation of the programme at Community level.>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.(Amendment 27)Article 4(1), 2nd subparagraph (new)>Text following EP vote>The financial resources shall be allocated in the most balanced manner possible throughout the duration of the programme.(Amendment 28)Article 4(2)>Original text>2. 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, the list of priorities referred in the second paragraph of Article 6, the trends in energy efficiency identified by the action described in Article 2(f) and according to the procedure laid down in Article 5.>Text following EP vote>2. 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 6, 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(f) and according to the procedure laid down in Article 5.(Amendment 29)Article 5>Original text>The Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory character 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 character composed of one representative 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 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.>Text following EP vote>The committee shall support the Commission representative in drawing up the criteria for the list of priorities referred to in Article 6, second paragraph.>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 it intends to take account of its opinion. The committee shall be consulted again on points not taken into account before the measures are taken.>Text following EP vote>The committee shall meet as a rule in public, unless a specific duly motivated decision is taken to the contrary and published in good time. It shall publish agendas two weeks before its meetings. It shall publish minutes of its meetings. It shall establish a public register of declarations of interest by its members.(Amendment 30)Article 6, 1st paragraph>Original text>The Member States shall report to the Commission annually on national energy efficiency programmes with a view to assisting the Commission in formulating appropriate flanking measures.>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.(Amendment 31)Article 6, 2nd paragraph>Original text>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. 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.(Amendment 32)Article 7(1)>Original text>1. After the third year of the programme, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the energy efficiency measures undertaken at Community and Member State level and on the results achieved, with particular reference to the objective outlined under Article 1. The report shall be accompanied by proposals for any amendments which may be necessary to the programme in the light of these results.>Text following EP vote>1. After each year of the programme, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the energy efficiency measures undertaken at Community and Member State level and on the results achieved, with particular reference to the objectives outlined under Article I. The report shall be accompanied by proposals for any amendments which may be necessary to the programme in the light of these results and by the annual conditions and guidelines adopted under Article 4(2).(Amendment 33)Article 9>Original text>The programme shall be open to the associated Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) in accordance with the conditions contained in the additional protocols to the association agreements concerning their participation in Community programmes.>Text following EP vote>The programme shall be open to the associated Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) and the associated Mediterranean countries in accordance with the conditions contained in the additional protocols to the association agreements concerning their participation in Community programmes, although the participation of those countries shall not be financed from this programme.(Amendment 34)Annex I (new)>Text following EP vote>Annex IDescription of the actions listed in Article 2:>Text following EP vote>Article 2(a):These shall include, in particular, studies concerning the introduction of EC legislative provisions in the following areas:>Text following EP vote>- 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>Article 2(c):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(d) and (e):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(f):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(g):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(h):This concerns actions to complement the actions listed under Article 2(g), 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(i):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.(Amendment 35)Annex II (new)>Text following EP vote>Annex IIIndicative percentage allocation of resources>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(a) and (aa): 8-12%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(b) and (ba): 15-20%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(c) and (ca): 12-15%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(d): 10%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(e): about 3%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(f): 12-14%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(g): 30-32%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(h): about 1%>Text following EP vote>Actions pursuant to Article 2(i): about 2%Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community - SAVE II (COM(95)0225 - C4-0603/95 - 95/0131(SYN))(Cooperation procedure: first reading)The European Parliament,- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0225 - 95/0131(SYN) ((OJ C 346, 23.12.1995, p. 14.)),- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 130s(1) of the EC Treaty (C4-0603/95),- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0088/96),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 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 for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;5. Asks to the 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.