REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts

2.12.2013 - (COM(2013)0247 – C7‑0120/2013 – 2013/0130(COD)) - ***I

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Rapporteur: Elena Oana Antonescu


Procedure : 2013/0130(COD)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A7-0420/2013
Texts tabled :
A7-0420/2013
Debates :
Texts adopted :

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts

(COM(2013)0247 – C7‑0120/2013 – 2013/0130(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2013)0247),

–   having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 338(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C7‑0120/2013),

–   having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–   having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (A7-0420/2013),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment  1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1) Decision No xxx of the European Parliament and of the Council of xxx 2013 laying down the Seventh Community Environment Action Programme1 provides that sound information on the key trends, pressures and drivers for environmental change is essential for the development of effective policy, its implementation, and the empowerment of citizens more generally. Instruments should be developed with a view to enhancing public awareness of the environmental effects of economic activity.

(1) Decision No .../... /EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of xxx 2013 laying down the Seventh Community Environment Action Programme+ provides that sound information on the key trends, pressures and drivers for environmental change is essential for the development of effective policy, its implementation, and the empowerment of citizens more generally. Instruments should be developed with a view to enhancing public awareness of the environmental effects of economic activity. It is important that such data are made available in a comprehensible and accessible form and published together with conventional economic data such as GDP.

______________

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1 OJ L …

+ OJ: Please insert the title and reference number of

Amendment  2

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Article 2 – point 4

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4) 'environmental protection expenditure' means the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection. Environmental protection includes all activities and actions which have as their main purpose the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution as well as any other degradation of the environment. This includes measures taken in order to restore the environment after it has been degraded. Activities which, while beneficial to the environment, primarily satisfy technical needs or the internal requirements for hygiene or security of an enterprise or other institution are excluded;

(4)'environmental protection expenditure' means the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection activities. Environmental protection activities include all activities and actions which have as their main purpose the promotion of good environmental status (GES), and the prevention, reduction and/or elimination of pollution as well as any other degradation of the environment. This also includes all measures taken in order to restore the environment after it has been degraded. Activities which, while beneficial to the environment, primarily satisfy technical needs or the internal requirements for hygiene or safety and security of an enterprise or other institution are excluded;

Amendment  3

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Article 2 – point 5

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5) ‘environmental goods and services sector’ means those production activities of a national economy that generate environmental products. Environmental products are products that have been produced for the purpose of environmental protection and resource management. Resource management includes the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of the stock of natural resources and hence safeguarding against depletion;

(5) ‘environmental goods and services sector’ means those production activities of a national economy that generate environmental products (environmental goods and services). Environmental products are products that have been produced for the purpose of environmental protection as defined in the second sentence of point (4) and resource management. Resource management includes the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of the stock of natural resources and hence safeguarding against depletion;

Amendment  4

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Article 2 – point 6

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(6) 'physical energy flow accounts' means consistent compilations of the physical energy flows into national economies, the flows within the economy and the outputs to other economies or to the environment.

(6) 'physical energy flow accounts' means consistent compilations of the physical energy flows into national economies, the flows, circulating within the economy and the outputs to other economies or to the environment.

Amendment  5

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex IV – section 1 – paragraph 1

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Environmental protection expenditure accounts present data, in a way that is fully compatible with the data reported under ESA, on the expenditure for environmental protection, i.e. the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection. The accounts allow compiling the national expenditure for environmental protection (EP) which is defined as the sum of uses of EP services by resident units, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) for EP activities, and transfers for EP which are not a counterpart of previous items, less financing by the rest of the world.

Environmental protection expenditure accounts present data, in a way that is compatible with the data reported under ESA, on the expenditure for environmental protection, i.e. the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection. The accounts allow compiling the national expenditure for environmental protection (EP) which is defined as the sum of uses of EP services by resident units, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) for EP activities, and transfers for EP which are not a counterpart of previous items, less financing by the rest of the world.

Amendment  6

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex IV – section 3 – fourth indent

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

VAT and other taxes less subsidies on products on environmental protection services,

Value‑added tax (VAT) and other taxes less subsidies on products on environmental protection services,

Amendment  7

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex IV – Section 4 – paragraph 3

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. In order to meet user needs for complete and timely datasets, the Commission (Eurostat) shall produce, as soon as sufficient country data becomes available, estimates for the EU-27 totals for the main aggregates of this module. The Commission (Eurostat) shall, wherever possible, produce and publish estimates for data that have not been transmitted by Member States within the deadline specified in point 2.

3. In order to meet user needs for complete and timely datasets, the Commission (Eurostat) shall produce, as soon as sufficient country data becomes available, estimates for the EU-28 totals for the main aggregates of this module. The Commission (Eurostat) shall, wherever possible, produce and publish estimates for data that have not been transmitted by Member States within the deadline specified in point 2.

Amendment  8

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex IV – Section 4 – paragraph 4

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. The first reference year is the year in which this Regulation enters into force.

4. The first reference year is the year following the year of entry into force of this Regulation.

Amendment  9

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex IV – Section 4 – paragraph 5

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. In the first data transmission, Member States shall include annual data from 2013 to the first reference year.

5. In the first data transmission, Member States shall include annual data from 2014 to the first reference year.

Amendment  10

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex V – section 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

Accounts for environmental goods and services should be drawn up using existing information obtained from national accounts, structural business statistics, business registers and other sources.

Amendment  11

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex V – Section 4 – paragraph 3

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. In order to meet user needs for complete and timely datasets, the Commission (Eurostat) shall produce, as soon as sufficient country data becomes available, estimates for the EU-27 totals for the main aggregates of this module. The Commission (Eurostat) shall, wherever possible, produce and publish estimates for data that have not been transmitted by Member States within the deadline specified in point 2.

3. In order to meet user needs for complete and timely datasets, the Commission (Eurostat) shall produce, as soon as sufficient country data becomes available, estimates for the EU-28 totals for the main aggregates of this module. The Commission (Eurostat) shall, wherever possible, produce and publish estimates for data that have not been transmitted by Member States within the deadline specified in point 2.

Amendment  12

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex V – Section 4 – paragraph 4

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. The first reference year is the year in which this Regulation enters into force.

4. The first reference year is the year following the year of entry into force of this Regulation.

Amendment  13

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex V – Section 4 – paragraph 5

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. In the first data transmission, Member States shall include annual data from 2013 to the first reference year.

5. In the first data transmission, Member States shall include annual data from 2014 to the first reference year.

Amendment  14

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – section 4 – point 2

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Statistics shall be transmitted within 18 months of the end of the reference year.

2. Statistics shall be transmitted within 21 months of the end of the reference year.

Amendment  15

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – Section 4 – paragraph 3

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. In order to meet user needs for complete and timely datasets, the Commission (Eurostat) shall produce, as soon as sufficient country data becomes available, estimates for the EU-27 totals for the main aggregates of this module. The Commission (Eurostat) shall, wherever possible, produce and publish estimates for data that have not been transmitted by Member States within the deadline specified in point 2.

3. In order to meet user needs for complete and timely datasets, the Commission (Eurostat) shall produce, as soon as sufficient country data becomes available, estimates for the EU-28 totals for the main aggregates of this module. The Commission (Eurostat) shall, wherever possible, produce and publish estimates for data that have not been transmitted by Member States within the deadline specified in point 2.

Amendment  16

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – Section 4 – paragraph 4

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. The first reference year is the year in which this Regulation enters into force.

4. The first reference year is the year following the year of entry into force of this Regulation.

Amendment  17

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – Section 4 – paragraph 5

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. In the first data transmission, Member States shall include annual data from 2013 to the first reference year.

5. In the first data transmission, Member States shall include annual data from 2014 to the first reference year.

Amendment  18

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – section 5 – point 1 – introductory part

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. For the characteristics referred to in Section 3, the following data shall be reported:

1. For the characteristics referred to in Section 3, the following data shall be reported in physical units:

Amendment  19

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – section 5 – point 1 – first indent

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

– Supply table for energy flows in physical units. This table records the supply of natural energy inputs, energy products, and energy residuals (row-wise) by origin, i.e. ‘supplier’ (column-wise).

– Supply table for energy flows. This table records the supply of natural energy inputs, energy products, and energy residuals (row-wise) by origin, i.e. ‘supplier’ (column-wise).

Amendment  20

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – section 5 – point 5 – second indent

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

– Energy products are grouped according to the classification of products by activity (CPA) and the classification used in European energy statistics.

– Energy products are grouped according to the classification of products by activity and the classification used in European energy statistics.

Amendment  21

Proposal for a regulation

Annex

Regulation (EU) No 691/2011

Annex VI – section 5 – point 6

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

6. The ‘bridge’ from the residence principle indicator to the territory based indicator is presented for the entire national economy (no breakdown by industries) and is obtained as follows:

6. The ‘bridge’ from the residence principle indicator to the territory based indicator is presented for the entire national economy (no breakdown by industries) and is obtained as follows:

total energy use by resident units

total energy use by resident units

– energy use by resident units abroad

– energy use by resident units abroad

+ energy use by non-residents on the territory

+ energy use by non-residents on the territory

 

+ statistical differences

= gross inland energy consumption (territory based)

= gross inland energy consumption (territory based)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Starting from 2003, environmental accounting was on the agenda of the European Union, as the GDP alone was not considered anymore a sufficient indicator for measuring progress and people's wellbeing in the world.

In June 2006, the European Council called on the European Union and its Member States to extend the classical national accounts to the key aspects of sustainable development and to supplement the national accounts with fully consistent, integrated environmental economic accounts.

In August 2008, the European Commission published its Communication on "GDP and beyond - measuring progress in a changing world (COM(2009)433)" in which it expressed its intention to develop strong tools to measure progress in delivering social, economic and environmental goals in a sustainable manner. The need to track the links between the environment and the economy, to measure what impacts the economy has on the environment and how the environment contributes to the economy already became very evident.

In April 2010, the European Commission proposed for the first time the Regulation on European environmental accounts which was subsequently adopted and entered into force in July 2011 as Regulation 691/2011, introducing the first three modules: air emission accounts, environmental taxes and material flow accounts. At those times, these three new modules were seen just as a first step towards having a strong instrument of environmental accounting. In article 10 of the Regulation, the Parliament actively supported the insertion of a list of new possible modules as priorities for future development.

Following the entry into force of the Regulation, Eurostat together with the Member States started to carry out pilot tests especially in regard to the first three modules listed in Article 10 of the Regulation: environmental protection expenditure, environmental goods and services sector and physical energy flow accounts. They reached the conclusion that these were the most mature from a conceptual point of view and thus proposed an extension of Regulation 691/2011 to these new modules.

The rapporteur welcomes the proposal that the Commission has put forward and believes that the new accounts will contribute to further developing more comprehensive indicators for better public debate and policy making. Due to the financial and personnel restraints that the national statistical institutes have to face for the moment it is important to focus on improving quality and promote the use of the already existing modules and the ones that the Commission has brought forward through the current proposal. It is important that the additional administrative burden is kept to what is necessary.

After consulting several services in charge of collecting the data, it became clear that some Member States were not yet ready for this new exercise and wanted to postpone the application with one year. The rapporteur can agree with this, if it is for the benefit of the quality of the data provided by the Member States to Eurostat.

The rapporteur can only encourage the wider use of the environmental accounts data by the European Commission and the national administration in order to develop well targeted policies that are able to contribute to the Union's policy priorities of green growth and resource efficiency.

PROCEDURE

Title

European environmental economic accounts

References

COM(2013)0247 – C7-0120/2013 – 2013/0130(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

2.5.2013

 

 

 

Committee responsible

       Date announced in plenary

ENVI

21.5.2013

 

 

 

Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)

       Date announced in plenary

ECON

21.5.2013

 

 

 

Not delivering opinions

       Date of decision

ECON

18.6.2013

 

 

 

Rapporteur(s)

       Date appointed

Elena Oana Antonescu

19.6.2013

 

 

 

Discussed in committee

24.10.2013

 

 

 

Date adopted

27.11.2013

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

59

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Elena Oana Antonescu, Paolo Bartolozzi, Sandrine Bélier, Sergio Berlato, Lajos Bokros, Franco Bonanini, Biljana Borzan, Yves Cochet, Spyros Danellis, Chris Davies, Esther de Lange, Bas Eickhout, Edite Estrela, Jill Evans, Karl-Heinz Florenz, Elisabetta Gardini, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Matthias Groote, Françoise Grossetête, Satu Hassi, Jolanta Emilia Hibner, Dan Jørgensen, Karin Kadenbach, Martin Kastler, Holger Krahmer, Corinne Lepage, Kartika Tamara Liotard, Linda McAvan, Miroslav Ouzký, Gilles Pargneaux, Andrés Perelló Rodríguez, Pavel Poc, Frédérique Ries, Anna Rosbach, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, Kārlis Šadurskis, Carl Schlyter, Richard Seeber, Bogusław Sonik, Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu, Thomas Ulmer, Glenis Willmott, Sabine Wils, Marina Yannakoudakis

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Erik Bánki, Gaston Franco, Julie Girling, Eduard-Raul Hellvig, Georgios Koumoutsakos, Jiří Maštálka, Judith A. Merkies, Miroslav Mikolášik, James Nicholson, Alojz Peterle, Vittorio Prodi, Marita Ulvskog, Vladimir Urutchev, Anna Záborská, Andrea Zanoni

Date tabled

2.12.2013