kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
there is the issue of financing instruments that are very important for stimulating energy efficiency measures but these need to be tackled in the appropriate legislation and initiatives.
however prescribing a common methodology for the energy performance calculation itself could be counter productive causing delays in the implementation of the directive by several years due to the complexity of member states' building
issues. very efficient buildings whether they are called low or zero energy buildings or next generation buildings are a new feature introduced into the directive by the commission.
policy. the building sector still has considerable potential to further improve its energy efficiency at the same time creating new jobs and stimulating
it is essential to make this provision ambitious but realistic and with some flexibility given the eu's varied climate and economic conditions.
excessive. harmonisation is crucial for the internal
fourthly it will ensure effective unbundling of the generation and transmission of energy so as to eliminate any conflict of interests promote network investment and prevent discriminatory behaviour. this legislation will also ensure greater transparency thereby guaranteeing equal access to information making pricing more transparent increasing trust in the market and helping to avoid any possible manipulation or any sort of manipulation of the market. this is not just about a properly functioning internal market but more generally about ensuring that the eu can rise to the challenges we are facing in the field of energy climate change increased import dependency security of supply global competitiveness. in particular a functioning internal market is a key element of the eu's effort to tackle climate
the compromise reached also strikes a good balance between the positions of parliament and the council.
consequently the buildings directive is constrained in what it can do with respect to financial and fiscal
and these integrated companies are likely to separate regardless of this directive.
an eu backed report has recently concluded that up to one hundred and twenty five million citizens are affected by energy poverty.
on and rwe agreeing to sell their transmission networks following anti trust investigations.
the market structure in some member states means that the monopoly enjoyed by transmission system operators who also own the means of generating electricity offers no incentive to encourage other players onto the market thereby undermining competition.
we will also see the end to discriminatory pricing on prepayment meters.
the legislation has seen a raft of new consumer protection measures set out including ensuring that customers are able to switch suppliers within three weeks the provision in each member state of an independent and robust complaints system and the right to compensation if service levels are not met.
the electricity directive for which i was rapporteur is part of a package of five measures which seeks improvements in the way the electricity and gas markets work across the continent to ensure that the markets are better integrated and operate in a fairer and less discriminatory way.
two thousand and twenty two these smart meters will enable customers to better control their energy use and increase energy efficiency helping to cut energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.
we should in particular be proud of the fact that the eu's energy consumers have now been put right at the centre of the energy debate for the first time and the issue of energy poverty has now been recognised at european level.
i would like to ask commissioner piebalgs if he will now make a commitment that in future the energy framework of the eu in addition to addressing security of supply sustainability and competitiveness will also now add a fourth leg that of affordability to all future energy policy proposals.
on the european parliament's initiative the new legislation also includes special protection measures for vulnerable energy consumers and the issue of energy poverty will now have to be taken seriously for the first time.
this legislation will also ensure that every household in the eu will be fitted with so called smart meters' by.
let me say how grateful i have been for the enormous cooperation from the other rapporteurs on this package as well as from the shadows the commission and the czech presidency for helping us to come to a conclusion on what was sometimes a very challenging debate.
the inherit conflict of interests that arises when a company owns both transmission and generation of electricity has been addressed and the regulatory regime governing the energy markets has been strengthened.
parliament has now accepted a compromise that will allow ownership of both transmission and generation on condition that we see increased checks and balances to ensure the removal of the inherent conflict of interest that arises. many of us reluctantly accepted the compromise because we believe that the wind is blowing in the direction of wholesale separations
the most controversial part of the package centred on whether there was a need for full ownership unbundling in the energy markets in other words a total separation of transmission systems from generation.
we are also going to see a strengthening of national regulatory authorities. i would like to thank everybody for their cooperation and i think we should be proud of what we have done for the consumers of the eu.
the commission's efforts in exposing the abuses of some companies is starting to pay off with examples of companies like e.
this is my swan song after fifteen years in the european parliament and i am delighted that we have made such a significant improvement in the energy markets on behalf of the european public.
i think that the energy crisis will become more acute in future years so getting the right market framework in place and creating the right kind of incentives for the right kind of investment is crucial.
you know that there are twelve countries in the european union where one company dominates seventy of the electricity market. what we have at the moment is the worst of both worlds.
the real challenge in future will be implementation.
let us not forget that there are many eu laws that already exist in the energy markets and it is precisely because these laws were not being respected that the revision of this law needed to take place. whether we need a fourth package or not will depend on the commission ensuring implementation
we think we have competition but what we have is the massive power of very large companies dominating certain markets. it will require action on the part of national regulatory authorities and competition authorities to make sure that we do not continue in this way.
it is far from perfect but it is definitely a step forward.
we need an estimated eur one trillion worth of investment in the markets to stop the lights from going out in future. but there is a huge amount more to do.
and good policing of these new laws by national regulatory authorities and competition authorities.
during the trialogue negotiations it became clear to me that the improvements put forward by me on behalf of parliament are essential for fair and effective energy markets.
in particular if it is to contribute effectively to the development of a single competitive energy market the agency needs more powers to tackle cross border issues and encourage effective cooperation between transmission system operators and national regulatory authorities however.
i should say that a number of the roles we have given to the agency sound more consultative than concrete but we have tried to create opportunities for innovative regulation by drawing attention to areas where action is needed but the agency does not have the appropriate powers to act.
i have in mind the general principle that we should reinforce the independence of the agency so as to make it both more effective and more credible by increasing the ways in which the agency is accountable in particular to this parliament.
i hope that the agency will rise to the challenges we have posed.
likewise the chairman of the board of regulators can attend the relevant committee and give an account of their work.
i hope the fact that i have been invited to speak second not fifth is clear recognition of the true significance and importance of this proposal.
all of this gives the agency a forum in the public domain to make its voice heard on issues of its choice.
turning to the roles i mentioned i believe that monitoring internal markets in gas and electricity participating in the development of network codes contributing to the implementation of the guidelines on trans european energy networks monitoring progress on implementation of projects to create new interconnector capacity having the power to decide on exemptions from requirements for investments in infrastructure
parliament has gained the right to nominate two of the members of the administrative board.
we have also created the opportunity for the commission to come forward with its report on the working of the agency and to make suggestions as to further tasks and roles that the agency might fulfil in the light of experience.
finally we have introduced requirements for streamlined decision taking.
the director will appear before the relevant committee of this house both prior to appointment and during his or her term of office to make a statement and answer questions.
i view the future role of the agency for the cooperation of energy regulators as crucial in achieving the long desired internal market in gas and electricity.
i believe this will happen.
let me first emphasise the increased forms of accountability that we have negotiated.
my objective has been to create an agency with greater independence and decision making powers.
in particular in countries with the ito model in place where the competencies of national regulators will be increased with independence from both governments and industry.
however we understand that this is only the first step in a long process of integration of regulatory frameworks.
we have managed to include a new provision whereby the agency will be able to propose the basic criteria to be included in the granting of exemptions for new interconnections. this is particularly relevant since it is one of the main obstacles investors in new capacity face when dealing with different member states. having to follow several different regulatory procedures can sometimes lead to confusing results and put off investors take for example nabucco. this regulation also establishes and gives a defined role to the european network of transmission system operators for electricity
judged by what matters most to consumers namely price i have to say it is not a success.
when minister dodds launched it he promised efficiency savings and enhanced competition to help minimise the wholesale costs of electricity with the vast bulk of the benefits going to the consumer.
this rings rather hollow now not least to the consumers from northern ireland who are in the public gallery listening to this debate.
in my view part of the problem is an ineffective regulatory process that is too aligned to the industry and too excusing of continuing high prices even when the price of oil has radically fallen.
forward buying at the top of the market giving sky high prices today barely raises a whimper from the regulator leaving hard pressed consumers without the relief that he should be providing.
as a shadow rapporteur it has been a pleasure to work together with her and i think it is fair to say that we have been able to achieve a liberalisation of the energy markets. at least we have made some important steps and thereby we have opened up the market. i think it is fair to say that the report on electricity also played the lead in the process that we are discussing here today. i think it is important to state that this is also in contrast to those in different countries who would like to have more protected borders
regarding energy markets.
but that would hinder and damage all the things that we can achieve by an open electricity market.
we can also ensure that we have a good supply of energy all over the union binding countries and markets together.
i think the steps we are taking with this energy market package should be seen as important ones.
he has urgent business elsewhere but he asked me to say which was very nice of him that the two of us agree that i will speak on behalf of our group. i would like to pick up one or two points that have come up in the debate.
the first is the colleague who expressed concern that we will end up with a concentration of power in very few utilities.
should that happen the commission possesses powers under the competition rules to address that and we have precedent in other parts of the world including the united states where they have tackled entrenched monopoly or dominant market power.
i have to remind the commissioner that i urged upon him caution in embarking upon the third package that it would be better to wait and see what the second package achieved once it was implemented.
i think now we must allow time for this package to be transposed to implement it and see how it works before deciding whether anything is needed.
i have to say that my disappointment about our lack of success in tackling ownership unbundling is offset by my optimism about the possibility of the agency imaginatively using the powers that we have given it to deal with the situation and i would like to
two german utilities are divesting themselves of their transmission systems because they have realised there is better value in doing that.
finally could i restate the case for competition?
it means better value and service for consumers and it means a more efficient use of resources.
madam president from the beginning of our negotiations on the belet report we found that all the stakeholders from the tyre manufacturers to the environmental lobbyists were broadly in agreement on the need for this legislation.
i would like to congratulate the rapporteur on the way he has dealt with this particular report and the way he has worked with the shadows.
i believe this legislation is needed right now.
it will give a boost to the car industry at what is a very difficult time.
i recently visited michelin in stoke and jaguar land rover factories in my constituency where i saw how research and development into green technology is already very much in place.
any support the industry receives during the downturn must focus on the requirements to adapt to the environmental challenge. legislation such as this will ensure our manufacturers become world leaders in the technology we so urgently need.
it is a win win proposal because it will also help the consumer by providing much needed clarity. tyres are not cheap yet most individual buyers are forced into uniform purchases.
this information will help make the move towards goods that reduce emissions as well as noise pollution.
this flooding is in large part the direct consequence of eu directives especially the eu directive on wildlife.
money has gone on wildlife habitats and routine maintenance and dredging which is highly necessary has been barred.
this is an appalling decision and i therefore ask two questions. first what use is the coalition government?
you mentioned in your remarks that we should look at the impact of climate change on flooding. have you ever considered the impact and consequent causes of eu directives on flooding?
as a proud british citizen i also find it impossible to support a report which seeks to place eu citizen status above my national citizenship.
colleagues we are in the midst of the most severe economic crisis in living memory.
i have always said that if there are such great benefits they should be felt by the man in the street and not have to be read about or pushed down on them. that is the true test of them.
if this was truly to be a year for european citizens we would do better to listen to them cut red tape and barmy laws create more jobs and growth and stop spending their money on pointless buildings monuments and programmes and show some real solidarity with the people who are struggling and who we are supposed to represent.
it is described as a timely opportunity given that it is one year before the european elections and it has a budget request of eur five million. this european year is not for the citizens but is for the eu itself to promote the eu project.
we hope in particular that it will highlight the rights of citizens to move and reside freely within the european union.
two thousand and fourteen it was this parliament which first proposed this initiative at the end of.
we are ready to play our role.
of course the european year of citizens is not a one off event.
thank you for your attention.
i would like to begin my remarks this afternoon by welcoming the agreement reached between the council and parliament on this important issue.
we are happy that the idea was taken up and moved forward by commissioner reding.
the treaty on european union first introduced the concept of citizenship of the union so next year will mark the twentieth anniversary.
the general objective of the european year of citizens in two thousand and thirteen is to enhance awareness and knowledge of the rights but also of the responsibilities attached to union citizenship.
we know that they are crucially important and that for many citizens they are seen as the key indicator of equality within an eu setting along with coordination of social security rights maybe this is why certain governments and parties feel that to help make the european union less acceptable they have to call those rights into question at the moment.
the current crisis certainly makes many feel that they are on the receiving end of decisions made elsewhere and that decisions are being made to suit unaccountable markets rather than individuals and families living with the consequences.
mr president citizenship is quite different from nationality. whereas the latter is inherited and felt intuitively the former if not based on nationality is a legal relationship which is artificial and contrived.
european citizenship is artificial because it is not based on a european nationality.
now there is a european identity but it is not based on common values;
it is based on overlapping but not conterminous ancestries and to varying degrees engrained similarities of behaviour and ability.
moreover the european people share a common civilisation.
however europeans are not a demos and cannot be the foundation of a european democracy.
european citizenship has been closely associated with freedom of movement of labour.
let me assure you that we have of course full respect for dissenting opinions.
therefore an initiative such as the european year of citizens is particularly welcome. following this and as a first step all institutions and stakeholders should cooperate in order to make the european year of citizens a success.
maybe not yet but let us think.
this is essential now more than ever given the dire times we are going through with negative consequences in the daily lives of people and where we need to prove through effectiveness and deeds that the european union is part of the solution.
we need to provide hope and to work towards a better europe for all.
i was born a british citizen and a subject of the queen and i intend to remain that way.
this whole exercise is merely a propaganda project spending the taxpayers' money to try and convince the taxpayer in a futile attempt that he loves the european union.
but with the eu teetering between failure and disaster with the euro creating grinding deflation poverty hunger and unemployment across southern europe the citizen does not love the european union.
ironically i raised this issue of radio spectrum for the aviation sector more than thirteen years ago.
therefore we must be in a position where we can benefit from these advanced sophisticated systems for tracking flights. air accident investigators worldwide are trusted by the public to investigate air accidents and incidents absolutely fully.
it is therefore our responsibility to provide them with the tools to do the job.
that is exactly what technology has done.
this means that it does not favour any specific commercial or technical solution as long as the technology used by operators is fit for the desired purpose.
such rules supported by the member states would be based on the following three principles first the requirements must be technologically neutral and performance based.
we therefore welcome the european parliament resolution and we will work together with member states at the world radio communication conference to ensure that it is coherently supported during the negotiations. to sum up the commission supported the protection of ads type b at the world radio communication conference and consequently in the itu radio regulation. we also know that during the preparations for the world radio communications conference member states signalled their support for allocation for satellite reception of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast atsb emissions from aircraft limited to
third the requirements must allow air carriers and aircraft manufacturers to opt for the most cost efficient solutions. the text of the commission proposal has already been submitted to the european parliament and council for scrutiny. on that basis comprehensive legislation should be adopted and published before the end of the year.
they will be defined to ensure that large public transport aircraft automatically transmit sufficient trajectory information regularly and accurately enough for search and rescue and investigation purposes. second provided that the relevant equipment can be operated safely the requirement should specify that it should have a backup power supply and it should not be possible to disable the flight tracking functions. this apparently occurred during the malaysia airlines flight.
the commission considers that satellite based technology for global flight tracking is a positive development.
i hope that this clarifies the efforts being made by the commission for the definition of commonly acceptable safe and cost efficient solutions for global flight tracking.
we look forward to close collaboration with parliament and the council for the timely adoption of the proposed specific legislation.
the successful and growing european satellite industry is ready to play its part.
lack of sufficient allocation of radio spectrum is only one of the barriers in this area but it is a very significant one.
this is not just about search and rescue operations but it is also about increasing the ability to help aircraft avoid poor weather and to help them take less environmentally damaging and shorter routes.
the international air transport association has effectively already supported reviewing and extending spectrum allocations.
travellers and families need this extra reassurance and confidence in airline systems.
these phenomena need to be addressed and the most effective way to deal with them is by adapting the current legislative framework so as to favour childbirth encourage men to take parental leave and strengthen the position of women in the labour market.
on the one hand despite the fact that women are increasingly well qualified their employment rate has not increased significantly in the last ten years the percentage of women in employment in two thousand and fourteen is still behind other developed countries and well behind our targets for.
it is partly because these measures such as they are such as exist already do not work properly.
we will only get these rights from here.
i ask people in the uk if it took trade unions to sue a labour government what is the chance that we will get the kind of rights that people need separate parental leave so that more than one percent of men can afford to stay at home what is the chance that we will get that from the tory government?
as one of the meps said it is the most beautiful time of life.
i decided to take parental leave anyway and i have to say that i was absolutely shocked at the reaction.