Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL adopting a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community (ALTENER) (1998-2002)
Date: 1999-11-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: environmental protection, greenhouse gas, renewable energy

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multiannual
programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community (Altener) (1998 to
2002)

Amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty

(2000/C 56 E/08)

(Text with EEA relevance)

COM(1999) 560 final (cid:151) 97/0370(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission on 5 November 1999)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (1),

Having regard to the Opinion of
Regions (2),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(1) Article 174 of

the
the Treaty provides
objectives of Community action is to ensure prudent
and rational utilisation of natural resources.

that one of

(2) Article 152 of the Treaty provides that health protection
requirements are to form a constituent part of
the
Community’s other policies; the Altener programme set
out in this Decision contributes to health protection.

(3) At its meeting on 29 October 1990 the Council set an
objective of stabilising total CO2 emissions by the year
2000 at the 1990 level in the Community as a whole.

(4) The Kyoto Protocol

on Climate Change

to the United Nations Framework
Convention
further
commitments for the Community and its Member States
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the under-
taking given by the Community to the effect that an 8 %
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the years 2008
to 2012 compared with 1990 levels would be achieved.

contains

(6) CO2

emissions

from energy

consumption in the
Community are likely to increase by about 3 % between
1995 and 2000, assuming normal economic growth; in
the light of the above-mentioned Kyoto undertaking, it is
essential to adopt additional measures; measures which
would genuinely help to achieve the above objective
including a much more intensive use of
renewable
energy sources as well as energy efficiency.

the

(7) At its meeting on 25 and 26 June 1996 the Council noted
that in the framework of the negotiations on a protocol
concerning the Berlin Mandate, the Second Assessment
Report of
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (SAR IPCC) had concluded that the balance of
evidence suggested that there was a discernible human
influence on global climate change and had stressed the
need for urgent action at the widest possible level, noted
that significant (cid:145)no-regrets(cid:146) opportunities were available
and requested the Commission to identify the measures
that had to be taken at Community level.

of

13 December

(8) By the Green Paper of 11 January 1995 and the White
Paper
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.

1995

the

(9) In its Resolution of 4 July 1996 on a Community action
renewable energy sources (5)
the European
plan for
Parliament called upon the Commission to implement a
Community action plan to promote renewable energy
sources.

(10) In its

resolution of 14 November 1996 (6) on the
Commission White Paper on an energy policy for the
European Union, the European Parliament called on the
Commission to develop a
to
stimulate renewable sources of energy.

financial programme

(5) A mechanism for monitoring CO2 and other greenhouse
gas emissions in the Community was established by
Council Decision 93/389/EEC (4).

(1) OJ C 214, 10.7.1998, p. 44.
(2) OJ C 315, 13.10.1998, p. 1.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 11 March 1999 (OJ C 175,
21.6.1999, p. 262), Council Common Position of 28 June 1999 (OJ
C 243, 27.8.1999, p. 47) and Decision of the European Parliament
of (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(4) OJ L 167, 9.7.1993, p. 31.

(11) By the Green Paper of 20 November 1996 and the White
Paper of 26 November 1997 entitled (cid:145)Energy for the
Future: Renewable Sources of Energy(cid:146), the Commission
started a process
the development and further
implementation of a Community Strategy and an Action
these are set out,
Plan on Renewable Energy Sources;
together with a (cid:145)Campaign for take-off(cid:146), in its White Paper.

for

(5) OJ C 211, 22.7.1996, p. 27.
(6) OJ C 362, 2.12.1996, p. 279.

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in this

(12) In its Resolution of 15 May 1997 (1) on the Green Paper
entitled (cid:145)Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of
Energy(cid:146), the European Parliament urged the Commission
to adopt as soon as possible a strengthened Altener II
same Resolution the European
programme;
Parliament also called for attention to be paid to the
possibility of coordinating policies and initiatives in the
sphere of renewable energy and energy efficiency in order
to develop potential existing synergies and avoid dupli-
in its Resolution of
cation of efforts wherever possible;
18 June 1998 (2) on the Commission communication
(cid:145)Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy (cid:151)
White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan(cid:146),
it called for a clear increase in funding for the Altener
programme in the Energy Framework Programme.

(13) Article 8 of Directive 96/92/EC of

the European
the Council of 19 December 1996
Parliament and of
concerning common rules for the internal market in elec-
tricity (3) offers Member States the possibility of furthering
the penetration of the market in electricity produced from
renewable sources of energy by giving them priority.

(14) Article 158 of the Treaty provides that the Community is
leading to the
its
to develop and pursue
strengthening of its economic and social cohesion and
is to aim at reducing disparities
that,
the various
between the
regions and the backwardness of
the least-favoured
regions; those actions cover inter alia the energy sector.

levels of development of

in particular,

actions

it

(15) In Decision 93/500/EEC (4) and Decision 98/352/EC (5),
the Council adopted a Community programme entitled
Altener for the promotion of renewable energy sources
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.

(16) The Community has

recognised

that

programme represents an important element of
Community strategy for reducing CO2 emissions.

the Altener
the

(18) In implementing Decision No 182/1999/EC of

fifth

1998

and of
concerning

the
the Council of 22
European Parliament
framework
the
December
programme of
the European Community for research,
technological development and demonstration activities
(1998 to 2002) (7), the Council Decision of 25 January
1999 adopting a specific programme for research, tech-
nological development and demonstration on energy,
environment
(1998 to
2002) (8) devotes particular attention to efficient and
renewable energy technologies; the Altener programme
is an instrument which complements that programme.

and sustainable development

(19) The Altener programme does not alter national projects
or systems for the promotion of renewable resources; its
objective is to add a Community aspect that represents
added value.

(20) Renewable energy sources are an important energy source
for the European Union with considerable commercial
should
development
potential;
be
supported through a
strategy and targeted
specific
actions to make them both viable and competitive and
thus create a favourable environment for investment.

therefore

their

(21) The increased use of renewable sources of energy will
have a positive effect both on the environment and on
the security of energy supplies; the free and large-scale
development of renewable energy sources will make it
possible fully to exploit their economic and employment
potential; a high degree of international cooperation is
desirable to achieve the best results.

(22) A strengthened Altener programme represents an essential
renewable
instrument
energy
should
account for a reasonable share of the European internal
energy market.

for developing the potential of

renewable

sources;

sources

energy

(17) Provision should therefore be made within the multi-
annual framework programme for actions in the energy
(1998 to 2002) adopted by Council Decision
sector
1999/21/EC, Euratom (6)
for a specific programme for
the promotion of renewable energy sources; this specific
programme would replace the corresponding instrument
currently in force.

(1) OJ C 167, 2.6.1997, p. 160.
(2) OJ C 210, 6.7.1998, p. 215.
(3) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997, p. 20.
(4) OJ L 235, 18.9.1993, p. 41.
(5) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998, p. 53.
(6) OJ L 7, 13.1.1999, p. 16.

(23) In order

to ensure proper

implementation of

the
Community Strategy and Action Plan up to 2010 for
renewable energy sources, the Commission needs appro-
priate mechanisms
for monitoring and assessing the
various initiatives.

(24) The aim of the targeted actions referred to in Article 2(d)
of this Decision is to facilitate and accelerate investment in
new operational capacity for the production of energy
from renewable sources by providing financial support,
in particular for small and medium sized enterprises
in order to reduce the peripheral and service
(SMEs),

(7) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1.
(8) OJ L 64, 12.3.1999, p. 58.

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costs of renewable energy projects, and thus overcome the
non-technical obstacles present; those actions promote,
the analysis of
inter alia, access to specialised advice,
market prospects,
location of projects,
construction and operation permits,
application for
initiatives taken by SMEs on investment
in renewable
sources of energy, the establishment of financing plans,
the preparation of calls
the training of
for
operators and plant commissioning.

the choice of

tenders,

in the area of biomass,

(25) Those targeted actions concern the implementation of
including
projects carried out
energy crops, firewood, residues from forestry and agri-
culture, municipal waste which cannot be recycled, liquid
biofuels and biogas, and in the areas of
thermal and
photovoltaic solar
systems, passive and active solar
than 10 MW)
systems
hydroelectric projects, wave energy, wind power and
geothermal energy.

in buildings,

scale (less

small

(26) The development of renewable energy sources can help
create a competitive energy system for the whole of
energy
and develop a European renewable
Europe
sources industry, with vast opportunities for the export
of technology and know-how and for investment in third
countries
involving Community participation in the
framework of cooperation programmes.

(27) It is politically and economically desirable to open the
Altener programme to the associated central and eastern
European countries, in accordance with the conclusions of
the Copenhagen European Council of 21-22 June 1993 as
confirmed by subsequent European Councils and as
outlined in the Commission communication on that
subject in May 1994, and also to Cyprus.

(28) The measures necessary for the implementation of the
present act being management measures in the meaning
of Article 2 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June
1999,
laying down the procedures for the exercise of
implementing powers conferred on the Commission (1),
these measures
should be adopted according to the
management procedure foreseen in Article 4 of the said
Decision.

(29) In order to ensure that Community aid is used efficiently
and duplication of work is avoided the Commission will
to thorough prior
ensure that projects are subject
appraisal; it will systematically monitor and evaluate the
progress and results of supported projects.

(30) This Decision establishes a financial

framework which
should be the principal point of reference, within the
meaning of point 1 of the Declaration by the European
Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March
1995 (2) for the budgetary authority for the purposes of
the annual budgetary procedure; account should be taken
of
that a new financial perspective will be
negotiated during the course of the Altener programme.

the fact

(31) This Decision replaces Council Decision 98/352/EC which

should accordingly be repealed,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

framework programme

for
1. Within the multiannual
actions
in the energy sector, a specific programme for
promotion of renewable energy sources and support for the
implementation of a Community strategy and action plan for
renewable energy sources to the year 2010 (hereinafter referred
to as (cid:145)the Altener programme(cid:146)) shall be implemented by the
Community for the period 1998 to 2002.

In addition to the priority objectives listed in Article 1(2) of
Council Decision 1999/21/EC, Euratom the objectives of the
Altener programme shall be to:

(a) help create the necessary conditions for implementing the
Community Strategy and action plan and boosting the
Campaign for Take-Off
above
as
mentioned Commission White Paper of 26 November
1997 entitled (cid:145)Energy for the future: renewable sources of
energy(cid:146) and in particular the legal, socio-economic and
administrative
new market
instruments and mechanisms;

conditions,

called for

including

in the

(b) encourage private and public investment in the production

and use of energy from renewable sources.

These two specific objectives shall contribute to achieving the
following overall Community objectives (cid:151) complementing
those of the Member States (cid:151) and priorities:
limitation of
renewable energy
increasing the share of
CO2 emissions,
sources in order to reach the indicative objective of 12 % in
the gross internal energy consumption in the Community in
2010, reduction in energy import dependence, security of
energy supply, promotion of employment, economic devel-
opment, economic and social cohesion and local and regional
development,
the economic
including the strengthening of
potential of remote and peripheral regions.

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

(2) OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 4.

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Community financial support shall be granted under the
2.
Altener programme for actions and measures meeting the
objectives set out in paragraph 1(a) and (b).

3.
The financial framework for the implementation of the
Altener programme shall be EUR 81,1 million. Of this amount,
EUR 29,6 million shall be for the period 1998 to 1999.

The financial framework for the period 2000 to 2002 shall be
EUR 51,5 million. This amount shall be reviewed if it is not
consistent with the financial perspective for that period.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budget
authority within the limits of the financial perspective.

Article 2

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

(a) studies and other actions,

States

impact

resulting from the use of

intended to implement and
complement other measures by the Community and
Member
taken to develop the potential of
renewable energy sources. These involve in particular the
development of sectoral and market strategies, the devel-
facilitating grouped
opment of norms and certification,
procurement, analyses, based on projects, comparing the
long-term cost/benefit
environmental
and the
forms of
trends
energy and the use of
the
the legal, socio-economic and administrative
analysis of
conditions,
the possible use of
including analysis of
economic measures and/or tax incentives which are more
favourable to the market penetration of renewable energies,
the preparation of appropriate legislation to promote an
environment favourable to investment and better methods
which make it possible to evaluate the costs and benefits
that are not reflected in the market price;

renewable energy sources,

traditional

(b) pilot actions of

to the Community aimed at
creating or extending structures and instruments for the
development of renewable energy sources in:

interest

(cid:151) local and regional planning,

regional and local activities; establishment of a centralised
system for
circulating
information and know-how on renewable energy sources;

prioritising

collecting,

and

(d) targeted actions

facilitating the market penetration of
renewable energy sources and relevant know-how,
in
order to facilitate the transition from demonstration to
marketing, and encouraging investment, by advising on
the preparation and presentation of projects and their
implementation;

(e) monitoring and evaluation actions intended to:

(cid:151) monitor the implementation of the Community strategy
the development of renewable

and action plan for
energy sources,

(cid:151) support initiatives taken in implementing the Action
Plan, particularly with a view to promoting better coor-
dination and greater synergy between actions, including
all Community funded activities and those funded by
other bodies such as the European Investment Bank,

(cid:151) monitor the progress achieved by the Community and
comment on that achieved by the Member States with
regard to the development of renewable energy sources,

(cid:151) evaluate the impact and cost effectiveness of actions and
measures undertaken under the Altener programme.
This evaluation shall also take into account the environ-
mental and social aspects,
including the effects on
employment.

Article 3

All costs relating to the actions and measures referred to
1.
in Article 2(a), (c) and (e) shall be borne by the Community.
Where a body other than the Commission proposes a measure
covered by Article 2(c), the Community’s financial contribution
shall not exceed 50 % of the total cost of the measure; the
balance may be made up from public or private sources or a
combination of the two.

(cid:151) the tools for planning, design and evaluation,

(cid:151) new financial products and market instruments;

The level of funding under the Altener programme for
2.
the actions and measures referred to in Article 2(b) shall not
exceed 50 % of their total cost; the balance may be made up
from public or private sources or a combination of the two.

(c) measures intended to develop information, education and
training structures; measures to encourage the exchange of
experience and know-how aimed at
improving coor-
dination between international, Community, national,

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

the targeted actions

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Article 4

The Commission shall be responsible for the financial

1.
execution and implementation of the Altener programme.

The Commission shall also ensure that actions under the
Altener programme are subject to prior appraisal, monitoring
and subsequent evaluation which, on completion of
the
project, shall
implementation
and whether the original objectives have been achieved.

include assessment of

impact,

The Commission shall ensure that the selected beneficiaries
submit reports to the Commission on at least a six-monthly
basis or, in the case of projects lasting less than one year, at the
halfway point and in all cases on completion.

The Commission shall keep the committee referred to in
Article 5 informed of the development of projects.

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

(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 cost effectiveness and development
potential of renewable energy sources and their impact on
employment
the
reduction of CO2 emissions;

in particular

environment,

and the

(c) for the actions referred to in Article 2(d), the relative cost
of the assistance, the long-term commercial viability, the
new production capacity expected to arise and the extent
of transregional and/or transnational benefits;

In the case where reference is made to the present para-
2.
graph, the management procedure foreseen in Article 4 of
Decision 1999/468/EC applies
(without prejudice to the
provisions of Article 8 of the same Decision).

The period foreseen in Article 4, paragraph 3 of Decision

3.
1999/468/EC is fixed at no more than three months.

Article 6

the
Examination and internal and external assessment of
implementation of
the Altener programme shall be carried
out in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of Council
Decision 1999/21/EC, Euratom.

Article 7

and

central

The Altener programme shall be open to participation by
associated
in
eastern
accordance with the conditions, including financial provisions,
laid down in the additional protocols to the Association Agree-
ments, or in the Association Agreements themselves, relating
to participation in Community programmes.

European

countries

The Altener programme shall also be open to participation by
Cyprus on the basis of additional appropriations, under the
same rules as those applied to the EFTA/EEA countries,
in
accordance with procedures to be agreed with that country.

Article 8

(d) the principles established in Article 87 of the Treaty and
the relevant Community guidelines on State aid for
environmental protection.

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Communities.

The committee provided for
in Article 5 shall assist
Commission in defining these conditions and guidelines.

the

Article 5

Article 9

Council Decision 98/352/EC shall be repealed.

The Commission shall be assisted, for the purposes of
1.
implementing the Altener programme, by the committee
referred to in Article 4 of Council Decision 1999/21/EC,
Euratom.

Article 10

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.