European Parliament resolution on climate change
Date: 2007-02-14
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: climate change, energy policy, environmental policy, reduction of gas emissions, renewable energy, tradeable emission permit

C 287 E/344

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

29.11.2007

Wednesday 14 February 2007

23.
Considers the coordination of TEN-T projects to be essential, particularly in the case of cross-border
projects, and hopes that the establishment of the TEN-T Executive Agency, which has now been announced
by the Commission, may contribute to the implementation of the TEN-T projects; points out that the
Commission should present a progress report on the activities and the possible future added value of the
TEN-T Executive Agency to Parliament before the first reading of the 2008 Budget;

24.
Points out that Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 of 19 December 2002 laying down the statute
for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes (1)
in its Article 3(1) a cost-benefit analysis, taking into account a number of factors, before the
requires,
establishment of an executive agency can be requested; regrets that the Commission was not in a position
to present the European Court of Auditors with a satisfactory cost-benefit analysis of the establishment of
an executive agency at the outset; remains, together with the European Court of Auditors, doubtful with
regard to the quality of the revised version of the cost-benefit analysis concerning the externalisation of the
management of Community financial support to the TEN-T networks; for the future, calls on the Commis-
sion to seek a positive opinion on cost-benefit analyses from the European Court of Auditors before for-
warding a request for the establishment of an executive agency to the budgetary authorities;

Regrets that DG TREN's establishment plan does not reflect more adequately the fact that 54 % of its

25.
budget concerns TEN-T, but that only 5 % of its staff work in that area;

Stresses the use of modern project monitoring systems (GPS) and the sharing of best practices for

26.
project implementation monitoring systems;

27.
Notes, in this context, the projected creation of an executive agency in 2007 which, according to the
Commission, will be staffed by eight seconded officials from the Commission, 32 temporary staff (agency)
and 48 contract staff; also notes that the cost of setting up the agency is estimated at EUR 78 600 000;

Underlines the fact that (co-)financing of TEN-T should take place transparently and that therefore

28.
regular information to Parliament and citizens should be guaranteed;

Calls on the European Court of Auditors to verify, at the appropriate time before 2009, the effec-

29.
tiveness of executive agencies and report back to the Committee on Budgetary Control;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the European

30.
Court of Auditors.

(1) OJ L 11, 16.1.2003, p. 1.

P6_TA(2007)0038

Climate change

The European Parliament,

European Parliament resolution on climate change

— having regard to the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the second session of the Conference of the
Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 2) held in Nairobi, Kenya,
from 6 to 17 November 2006,

— having regard to its previous resolutions relating to climate change, and in particular those of
16 November 2005 on ‘Winning the Battle against Global Climate Change’ (1) and of 26 October
2006 on the European Union strategy for the Nairobi Conference (COP 12 and COP/MOP 2) (2),

(1) OJ C 280 E, 18.11.2006, p. 120.
(2) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0460.

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— having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament,
the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions entitled ‘Limiting Global
Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius — The way ahead for 2020 and beyond’ (COM(2007)0002),

Wednesday 14 February 2007

— having regard to the conclusion formally approved on 2 February 2007 at the 10th Session of Working
Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), held in Paris, as a contribution to
the IPCC Fourth Assessment report describing the current knowledge of the human and natural drivers
of climate change and providing an estimate of projected future climate change,

— having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the recent extreme weather events, such as the devastating storm Kyrill, have led to an even

more intensive debate on climate change,

B. whereas a single extreme weather event cannot be directly linked to climate change, but the fact cannot
be ignored that many scientists see the increased intensity of extreme weather events as having a link to
climate change,

C. whereas recent scientific reports give cause for concern that the processes of climate change that are

already underway may accelerate due to various forms of positive feedback,

Stresses the urgency of taking concrete action at global level to tackle climate change, as well as the

1.
need for political leadership to drive the process forward;

2. Welcomes, in this context, the fact that both the Commission and the Presidency-in-Office have put
climate change at the core of their political agenda;

3.
Urges the European Union to maintain its leading role in the negotiations with a view to a post-2012
international framework on climate change and to maintain a high level of ambition in future discussions
with its international partners;

4.
Urges the European Union to demonstrate its resolve by addressing climate change through measur-
able progress in reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meeting its domestic and international
emission reduction targets;

Recognises that the EU's share of GHG emissions — which according to the Fourth national commu-
5.
nication from the European Community under UNFCCC (COM(2006)0040) amounts to 14 % — may
appear low; stresses, however, that, when measured in terms of per capita emissions, the EU share is
among the highest in the world; in order to narrow these differences, reminds the Commission and the
Member States of their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and Marrakesh Accords to ensure supplemen-
tarity of their use of flexible mechanisms;

6.
Stresses the need to accelerate significantly international negotiations on the post-2012 framework so
as to ensure that there is no gap between the first and second commitment periods under the Kyoto Pro-
tocol and give the international community time to plan the necessary measures; reiterates its call for an
agreement to be reached by the end of 2008 or, at the very latest, by 2009;

7.
Underlines that the EU should base its strategy on the assumption that an agreement will be achieved
at international level on a post-2012 framework on climate change; believes, therefore, that it is premature
to discuss at this stage a fall-back strategy in case such an international agreement is not reached;

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8.
Recalls that, as set out in its abovementioned resolutions of 16 November 2005 and 26 October
2006, and partly acknowledged by the Commission in its communication, the EU strategy on climate
change should be based on the following key objectives:

(i)

to limit the average global temperature increase to 2 °C above pre-industrialisation levels;

(ii)

to undertake overall emission reductions for all industrialised countries of 30 % in comparison with
1990 emission levels by 2020 with a view to achieving a reduction in the order of 60 to 80 % by
2050;

Regrets the lack of clarity of the Commission's ‘energy and climate package’ with regard to the target
9.
for GHG emission reductions for 2020; emphasises that an overall 30 % reduction for all industrialised
countries is necessary to have a reasonable chance of attaining the EU objective of limiting the average
temperature increase to 2 °C;

Insists that the EU must base all internal policies and measures on the reduction target of 30 % by

10.
2020 compared to 1990 levels;

Underlines that, in order to reach agreement at international level on a 30 % reduction of GHG
11.
emissions in all industrialised countries, the European Union has to focus not only on environmental policy
but also on foreign policy and international trade policy, as well as on a willingness to change demand for
energy and other natural resources, and that this broader picture has, therefore, to be part of the debate on
the strategy to achieve the abovementioned objective;

12.
Considers that economically developed Member States have exported a large amount of their energy-
and natural resource-consuming activities and technologies to less developed countries, where the same
activity causes possibly higher GHG emissions; therefore urges the Commission and Member States to estab-
lish policies to prevent such practices;

Insists on the specific responsibility of developed countries to tackle climate change at world level;
13.
calls, therefore, on Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC to meet their existing commitments and to take on
ambitious targets for a second commitment period after 2012; calls, moreover, on those industrialised
countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol to reconsider their position, to take vigorous domestic
measures and to play an active role in future international negotiations, with a view to their participation in
the future climate change regime;

14.
Calls on the Commission and Member States to investigate the possibility of adopting border adjust-
ment measures applicable to trade in order to offset any short-term competitive advantage that producers in
industrialised countries without carbon constraints might have;

15.
Reiterates its proposal to revise the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) with the goal of harmonising
the allocation method on the basis of benchmarks and auctioning; proposes that the cost-free allocation of
emission certificates should be reduced and suggests to the Member States that the money generated by, for
instance, auctioning should be given back to the citizens and enterprises affected;

16.
Agrees with the Commission that non-Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC have to be further involved in
the process, but underlines that developing countries cannot be treated as one block and that activities
undertaken by or within developing countries must be differentiated on the basis of their particular national
circumstances; further emphasises that the least developed countries should not be required to take on any
commitments;

17.
In order to ensure an international level playing field, calls on the Commission and Member States to
consider proposing sectoral targets for energy-intensive export industries in countries without binding emis-
sion reduction commitments as a supplement to binding emission targets for industrialised countries;

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18.
Stresses that energy policy is a crucial element of the EU global strategy on climate change and that
diversification of renewable energy resources and a switch to the most energy-efficient technologies has
great potential for emission reductions while ensuring less energy dependency on external sources;

19.
Believes that the current inefficiency of many electricity power plants is a major contributor to the
problem of global warming and calls on the Commission to bring forward proposals requiring all Member
States to ensure that the energy released as a by-product of electricity generation is harnessed through
combined heat and power technology;

20.
Considers that there is a huge potential for emission reductions in the field of energy efficiency; calls
on the Commission and Member States to adopt ambitious measures and targets in this field and to explore
the possibility of going above the 20 % reduction target proposed by the Commission;

Considers that with well balanced national tax/levy systems, energy efficiency can be increased in

21.
Member States and unnecessary energy consumption can be prevented;

22.
Furthermore calls on the Commission and Member States to scrutinise the possibility of establishing
an EU-wide tax system aimed at promoting a low-carbon economy, encouraging the use of the best avail-
able technologies and production processes and more sustainable modes of consumption to this end;

23.
Calls on the Member States to fulfil their commitments by taking the appropriate measures to ensure
the prompt implementation of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings (1), which entered into force on 4 January
2003, whose cost-effective savings within the building sector are estimated at around 22 %; calls therefore
on the Commission to open proceedings against those Member States which have not yet taken adequate
measures, as requested, to implement Directive 2002/91/EC;

Underlines that energy consumption is increasing most in the transport sector and that road trans-
24.
port contributes to roughly 25 % of the Community's CO2 emissions; calls, therefore, for binding measures
for the transport sector, including aviation, to make emission reductions equivalent to those in other sectors
by 2020 and for the development of more integrated and greener public transport, respecting the environ-
ment and natural resources;

Stresses the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and therefore insists that the Commis-
25.
sion impose a binding target of 120 grams per kilometre (gpk) by 2012 for new passenger cars marketed in
the European Union;

26.
Reiterates its call for aviation and maritime transport emissions to be included in international green-
house gas reduction commitments for the post-2012 period, and calls for renewed efforts to introduce
kerosene taxes at EU and global level;

27.
Notes the proposal of a binding target to increase the level of renewable energy in the EU energy mix
to 20 % by 2020 as a good starting point, but considers that this target should be increased to 25 % of the
EU energy mix;

28.
Notes the absence of binding sectoral renewables targets; points out that these would bring about a
real reduction in GHG emissions in order to tackle climate change; urges the Commission to propose, in
addition to the general target, the submission of sector-specific targets, notably for electricity generation,
heating and cooling, by Member States for renewable energy taking into account their different situations as
proposed by the impact assessment of the Renewable Energy Roadmap (COM(2006)0848);

Reiterates that heating and cooling with renewable energy offers huge potential for a cost-effective
29.
reduction of CO2 and of dependence on fossil fuels; regrets that the Commission has not submitted a
proposal for a directive to support heating and cooling with renewable energies as promised to the Euro-
pean Parliament but notes that legislative measures in the field are still planned by the Commission;

(1) OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 65.

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Reiterates with insistence its recommendations for a proposal on heating and cooling from renewable

30.
sources of energy contained in its resolution of 14 February 2006 (1);

Notes the Commission proposal for a binding minimum target for biofuels of 10 % of vehicle fuels in
31.
2020; takes the view that a target of 12,5 % would also be realistic and desirable; underlines the importance
of the sustainable production of biofuels; calls on the Commission to introduce a certification scheme and
standards (e.g. technical legislation) allowing sustainable production of biofuels which is applicable to bio-
fuels produced within, and imported into, the European Union;

32.
Notes that the Commission recognises in the medium term the important role of fossil fuels and the
possibility of undertaking further studies to reduce their carbon intensity in line with the 2 °C target for CO2
reduction; considers that this should include continuous modernisation and improvement of their efficiency;
the development of a new generation of installations; the further development of an efficient and econom-
ical method of carbon capture and storage in relation to coal, gas and oil, in accordance with the decisions
taken by the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plant, and the removal of
barriers posed by EU legislation; recognises the role of carbon capture and storage technologies in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions;

33.
Supports the proposed energy partnership with Africa; however, strongly recommends that a similar
partnership be established with China and India as well, bearing in mind the very rapid growth of GHG
emissions in those countries and the urgent need to assist them in capacity-building as well as investments
in carbon-free, low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies (with special attention to renewables), while
insisting that the EU work with the relevant regions to stop tropical deforestation and instead encourage
afforestation and reforestation; proposes, furthermore, that energy cooperation with Russia, Ukraine, North
African and Caspian countries be stepped up;

34.
Considers that significant efforts to reduce emissions can go hand in hand with economic develop-
ment and are even a prerequisite for sustainable economic development in the coming decades; reiterates
that environmental technologies can give the European Union a competitive edge while greatly contributing
to emission reductions; notes that environmental technologies are, therefore, at the heart of a sustainable
development strategy compatible with the EU's Kyoto commitments and the Lisbon Strategy;

Underlines economic, social and health costs of inaction shown,

35.
inter alia, by the Stern Review
on the economics of climate change; recalls that the absence of action would cause damage corresponding
to 5-20 % of global GDP per year, whereas the cost of a sound climate policy and investment in clean
technologies is estimated at between 0.5 % and 1 % of global annual GDP up to 2050, without taking
account of ancillary environmental and health benefits; recognises that delaying action will increase the
risk of adverse environmental effects and mitigation costs;

Recognises that climate change is causing serious environmental problems requiring immediate EU
36.
and international action; believes that by 2050 the overwhelming proportion of EU energy needs must
come from carbon-free sources or be produced with technologies which withhold greenhouse gas emissions,
with a focus on energy saving, efficiency and renewable energies, and that there is therefore a need to set
out a clear roadmap for attaining this objective; calls on the Commission to set ambitious but realistic
targets for ultra-low or non-CO2-emitting and CO2-neutral energy technologies to supply 60 % of EU elec-
tricity demand by 2020, in support of European climate and security-of-supply objectives;

37.
Takes the view that research in this field should be boosted and clear environmental performance
targets should be adopted in order to encourage the development and use of better and more environment-
friendly technologies;

38. Maintains that reducing global emissions must not lead to other threats such as nuclear proliferation
or terrorism; therefore believes that nuclear power should remain excluded from the Clean Development
Mechanism and Joint Implementation or other mechanisms aimed at rewarding emission reductions in
developing countries;

(1) OJ C 290 E, 29.11.2006, p. 115.

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39.
Encourages much greater direct involvement in mitigation efforts at European citizen level; calls on
the Commission therefore to intensify its awareness-raising activities concerning the urgency of the situation
with the aim of informing individuals about their role in controlling climate change;

40.
Calls again on the European Union and its Member States to adopt an ambitious policy of techno-
logy partnerships with and transfers of clean technologies to developing countries, in order to help them
develop their economies and increase their welfare in a more sustainable way;

Calls on the Commission to evaluate climate change repercussions on the increase in ground tem-
41.
perature, the reduction of rains and the groundwater status; considers it especially important to study the
effects of the reduction of the area of cultivable land as a source of biomass and as a carbon pool; under-
lines the importance of certain agricultural management practices;

42.
Calls for all of its relevant committees and delegations to work together closely on climate change, so
that its industrial policy, energy policy and transport, agriculture, research and development and other
initiatives are better coordinated with climate change targets, and so that climate change is regularly raised
at interparliamentary delegation level and in the context of the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue;

43.
Calls on the three Presidencies (Germany, Portugal and Slovenia) in 2007 to ensure that the momen-
tum on climate change is accelerated, whilst increasing the level of political commitment and the number of
international partners within the process at international level;

44.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments
and parliaments of the Member States and the Secretariat of the UNFCCC, with the request that it be
circulated to all non-EU contracting parties.

P6_TA(2007)0039

PNR-SWIFT

European Parliament resolution on SWIFT, the PNR agreement and the transatlantic dialogue
on these issues

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the statements from the Council and the Commission during the debate held in
Parliament on 31 January 2007, following the oral question on SWIFT, as well as the negotiations for
a new EC-US Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreement,

— having regard to the letter of reply by the European Central Bank (ECB) of 30 January 2007 to the
question of whether the ECB had failed to inform the relevant data protection authorities and the
national banks of the US practice of accessing data related to financial transactions generated by
SWIFT, as well as to use its power of moral persuasion towards SWIFT in this matter,

— having regard to the opinion of the Working Party on the Protection of Individuals with regard to the
Processing of Personal Data, as foreseen in Article 29 of the Data Protection Directive (1) (the Article 29
Working Party) on the future PNR agreement and to that of the European Data Protection Supervisor
(EDPS) as regards the role of the ECB in the SWIFT case,

— having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

(1) Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 281,
23.11.1995, p. 31).