6.4.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 152/159
1.6.
The EESC regrets that the Commission did not analyse the impact of the Fit for 55 package on individual Member States, nor on different sectors.
It is of the opinion that a specific impact assessment of the Social Climate Fund creation would have deserved to be carried out.
1.7.
The EESC welcomes the obligation of Member States to submit a comprehensive package of measures and investments as their Social Climate Plan along with the updated version of their National Energy and Climate Plan according to the Governance Regulation.
The EESC calls for the involvement of social partners, chambers of commerce, civil society, youth organisations as well as local and regional authorities in the elaboration of the national Social Climate Plans by the Member States.
1.8.
The EESC is concerned that the costs of an emissions trading system for buildings and transport would outweigh the desired benefits and could lead to uncontrolled and therefore existence-threatening price spikes.
The EESC is therefore generally critical about the Social Climate Fund being tied to the introduction of an ETS for buildings and transport and would welcome a specific heading in the EU budget dedicated to the social impact of the green transition.
Rather, the introduction of a Social Climate Fund at EU level should be pursued in principle.
1.9.
The EESC notes that efficient use of the resources from the Fund must be ensured and fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest associated with the measures supported by the fund must be prevented.
1.10.
In terms of the rule of law, it welcomes the measures proposed by the Commission for an effective and efficient internal control system and the announcement to recover unduly paid or misused amounts.
Furthermore, the EESC also wonders whether the EU procedure for reducing EU funds when Member States violate the rule of law will apply to the disbursement of the funds.
1.11.
The EESC requests more clarification regarding the financing of the Fund.
The proposal foresees that the financing will be based on a volatile EU ETS market.
Therefore, the EESC does not understand why a fixed amount of EUR 72,2 billion is proposed.
The volatility in prices will determine the budget of the Fund.
This stresses, inter alia, a necessity for a more stable funding.
The EESC proposes to introduce partial financial flexibility in the Fund depending on the actual price development of the allowances (in which the allocation could be increased along with the increasing price).
1.12.
When considering the distribution of the Fund among Member States, the EESC stresses that the carbon pricing might have a different impact on individual Member States and it can be also contradictory to national measures already in place, as highlighted by the Irish Parliament in its reasoned opinion on subsidiarity.
1.13.
The EESC welcomes the approach by which gender equality and equal opportunities for all, as well as the mainstreaming of these objectives and also questions regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities, are pursued and promoted when developing and implementing the National Plans to ensure that no one is left behind.
The planned carbon pricing particularly affects women, as they make up 85 % of single parents.
In single-parent families, the risk of child poverty is especially high.
1.14.
The EESC knows very well that the Social Climate Fund represents a medium-term reaction to the problem of compensation of higher costs of the green transition to the vulnerable entities.
However, the current situation in energy price development requires an immediate solution.
The EESC welcomes the Communication from the Commission, which provides Member States with a ‘toolbox’ to address the immediate impact of the current increase in wholesale prices for natural gas and electricity and to strengthen the resilience to future price shocks.
Short-term national measures include emergency income support for households, aid for businesses and targeted tax cuts.
In order to align the help with the toolbox, the EESC suggests to broaden the scope of the Social Climate Fund to vulnerable small and medium-sized enterprises.
This reaction is compatible with the mission of the Social Climate Fund and respects the relevant EU rules.
1.15.
The EESC calls on the Member States to support the development and provision of affordable zero- and low-emission mobility and transport services.
The EESC considers the provision of public passenger transport services, within the limits of legal possibilities, to be the backbone of sustainable and affordable mobility.