REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006

17.7.2013 - (COM(2011)0612 – C7‑0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Regional Development
Rapporteur: Victor Boştinaru

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006

(COM(2011)0612 – C7‑0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2011)0612),

–   having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 177 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C7‑0325/2011),

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

–   having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 25 April 2012[1];

–   having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 3 May 2012[2];

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

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A7-0270/2013),

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) Article 174 of the Treaty provides that the Union should develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. The Cohesion Fund should therefore provide a financial contribution to projects in the field of the environment and to trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure.	(1) Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides that the Union is to develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. The Cohesion Fund which is established by this Regulation should therefore provide a financial contribution to projects in the field of the environment and to trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure.
Amendment  2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(2) Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 of […] laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 [Common Provisions Regulation - CPR] establishes a new framework for the action of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. It is necessary to specify the objectives of the Cohesion Fund in relation to the new framework for its action and in relation to the purpose assigned to it in the Treaty.	(2) The provisions common to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund are set out in Regulation (EU) No […]/2013 of […] laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 [Common Provisions Regulation - CPR]. The CPR establishes a new framework for the action of the European Structural and Investment Funds including the Cohesion Fund. It is necessary therefore to specify the objectives of the Cohesion Fund in relation to the new framework for its action and in relation to the purpose assigned to it in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment  3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(3) The Union may, through the Cohesion Fund, contribute to actions in pursuit of the Union's environmental objectives specified in Articles 11 and 191 of the Treaty.	(3) The Union may, through the Cohesion Fund, contribute to actions in pursuit of the Union’s environmental objectives specified in Articles 11 and 191 of the TFEU, namely energy efficiency and renewable energy and, in the transport sector outside the trans-European networks, rail, river and sea transport, intermodal transport systems and their interoperability, management of road, sea and air traffic, clean urban transport and public transport.
Amendment  4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(3a) In order to accelerate the development of infrastructure in transport across the Union, the Cohesion Fund should support transport infrastructure projects of European added value provided for by Regulation (EU) No [...]/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of [...] establishing the Connecting Europe Facility (hereinafter referred to as the "CEF Regulation"), for a total amount of EUR XXX. Support to be allocated from the Cohesion Fund should follow the rules established by Article [84 (4)] of Regulation (EU) No [...]/2013 [CPR]. In accordance with the CEF Regulation, support should be available to Member States eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund only, with the co-financing rates applicable to this Fund.
Amendment  5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(3b) It should be recalled that where measures based on Article 192(1) of the Treaty involve costs deemed disproportionate for the public authorities of a Member State and financial support from the Cohesion Fund is provided in accordance with Article 192(5), the polluter pays principle shall nevertheless apply.
Amendment  6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4a) The European Union and most Member States are party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities while the other Member States are in the process of ratifying it. It is important in the implementation of relevant projects that accessibility for persons with disabilities as mentioned in Article 9 of the Convention is considered in the specification of the projects.
Amendment  7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(5) Specific provisions concerning the type of activities which may be supported by the Cohesion Fund under the thematic objectives defined in Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR] should be laid down. At the same time, expenditure outside the scope of the Cohesion Fund should be defined and clarified, including as regards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in installations falling under Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC.	(5) Specific provisions concerning the type of activities which may be supported by the Cohesion Fund under the thematic objectives defined in Regulation (EU) No […]/2013 [CPR] should be laid down.
Amendment  8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5a) Investments to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC should not be eligible for support from the Cohesion Fund as they already benefit financially from the application of that Directive. This exclusion should not restrict the possibility to use the Cohesion Fund to support the activities not listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC even if implemented by the same economic operators, such as, energy efficiency investments in co-generation of heat and power and in the district heating networks, smart energy distribution, storage and transmission systems, measures aimed at reducing air pollution etc, even if one of their indirect effects is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or if they are listed in the national plan referred to in Article 10c(1) of Directive 2003/87/EC.
Amendment  9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5 b) Investments in housing except for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use cannot be eligible for support from the Cohesion Fund as they fall outside the scope of support from the Cohesion Fund as defined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment  10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5 c) It is important to ensure that, in promoting risk management investments, specific risks at regional, cross border and transnational level are taken into account.
Amendment  11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5 d (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(5 d) Complementarity and synergies between interventions supported by the Cohesion Fund, the ERDF, the ETC and the CEF should be ensured, in order to avoid duplication of efforts and guarantee the optimal linkage of different types of infrastructure at local, regional and national levels, and across the European Union.
Amendment  12 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(6) In order to address the specific needs of the Cohesion Fund, and in line with the Europe 2020 strategy that cohesion policy should support the need to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, it is necessary to set out investment priorities within the scope of the thematic objectives laid down in Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR].	(6) In order to address the specific needs of the Cohesion Fund, and in line with the Europe 2020 strategy that cohesion policy should support the need to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, it is necessary to set out investment priorities within the scope of the thematic objectives laid down in Regulation (EU) No […]/2013 [CPR]. These investment priorities should set out detailed objectives, which are not mutually exclusive, to which the Cohesion Fund shall contribute. These investment priorities should form the basis for the definition of specific objectives within operational programmes that take into account the needs and characteristics of the programme area. In order to increase flexibility and reduce administrative burden by allowing joint implementation, the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund investment priorities under the corresponding thematic objectives should be aligned.
Amendment  13 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7) A common set of indicators to assess progress of programme implementation should be set out before the Member States draft their operational programmes. These indicators should be complemented by programme-specific indicators.	(7) A common set of output indicators to assess the aggregated progress at Union level of implementation of programmes should be set out in this Regulation. These should correspond to the investment priority and type of action supported in accordance with this Regulation and the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) No [...]/2013 [CPR]. These indicators should be complemented by programme-specific result indicators and, where relevant, by programme-specific output indicators.
Amendment  14 Proposal for a regulation Recital 8
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(8) This Regulation replaces Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 of 11 July 2006 establishing the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1164/94. In the interest of clarity, Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 should therefore be repealed.	(8) This Regulation replaces Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 of 11 July 2006 establishing the Cohesion Fund. That Regulation should therefore be repealed. Nevertheless, this Regulation should not affect either the continuation or modification of assistance approved by the Commission on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 or any other legislation applying to that assistance on 31 December 2013, which should consequently apply thereafter to that assistance or the projects concerned until their closure. Applications to receive assistance made or approved under Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 should therefore remain valid.
Amendment  15 Proposal for a regulation Recital 8 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(8 a) Since the economic, social and territorial cohesion objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States by reason of the extent of the disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions and the limit on the financial resources of the Member States and regions and can therefore be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
Amendment  16 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – title and paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Subject-matter	Establishment and subject-matter of the Cohesion Fund
This Regulation establishes the tasks of the Cohesion Fund and the scope of its support with regard to the Investment for growth and jobs goal referred to in Article 81 of Regulation (EU) No [ ]/2012 [CPR].	1. A Cohesion Fund is hereby established for the purpose of strengthening the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union in the interests of promoting sustainable development. This Regulation establishes the tasks of the Cohesion Fund and the scope of its support with regard to the Investment for growth and jobs goal referred to in Article 81 of Regulation (EU) No [ ]/2013 [CPR].
Amendment  17 Proposal for a regulation Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	1a. The Cohesion Fund shall be governed by Regulation (EU) No [… ]/2013 [CPR] and by this Regulation.
Amendment  18 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) the decommissioning of nuclear power stations;	(a) the decommissioning and the construction of nuclear power stations;
Amendment  19 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in installations falling under Directive 2003/87/EC;	(b) investment to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities falling under Annex I of Directive 2003/87/EC;
Amendment  20 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) housing.	(c) housing except for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use;
Amendment  21 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ca) the manufacturing, processing and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products;
Amendment  22 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(cb) undertakings in difficulties as defined under Union State aid rules;
Amendment  23 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(cc) investment in airport infrastructure unless related to environmental protection or accompanied by investments necessary to mitigate or reduce its negative environmental impact.
Amendment  24 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 2a
	Support from the Cohesion Fund to transport infrastructure projects under the Connecting Europe Facility
	The Cohesion Fund shall support transport infrastructure projects of European added value provided for by Regulation (EU) No[...]/2013 [establishing the Connecting Europe Facility] for an amount of EUR XXX in accordance with Article [84 (4)] of Regulation (EU) No [...]/2013 [CPR].
Amendment  25 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
In accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR], the Cohesion Fund shall support the following investment priorities within the thematic objectives set out in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR]:	In accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No [...]/2013 [CPR], the Cohesion Fund shall support the following investment priorities within the thematic objectives set out in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No [...]/2013 [CPR] taking into account the needs and potentials described in the Partnership Agreement referred to in Article 14(1)(a)(i) of that Regulation:
Amendment  26 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors by:	(a) supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors through:
Amendment  27 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) promoting the production and distribution of renewable energy sources;	(i) promoting the production and distribution of energy derived from renewable sources;
Amendment  28 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii) promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in small and medium-sized enterprises;	(ii) promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in enterprises;
Amendment  29 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructures;	(iii) supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructures, including in public buildings, and in the housing sector;
Amendment  30 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv) developing smart distribution systems at low voltage levels;	(iv) developing and implementing smart distribution systems at low and medium voltage levels ;
Amendment  31 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point v
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(v) promoting low-carbon strategies for urban areas;	(v) promoting low-carbon strategies for all types of territories, in particular for urban areas, including the promotion of sustainable multi-modal urban mobility and mitigation relevant adaptation measures;
Amendment  32 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point v a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(va) promoting the use of high efficiency cogeneration of heat and power based on useful heat demand;
Amendment  33 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point b – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management by:	(b) promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management through:
Amendment  34 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point b – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) supporting dedicated investment for adaptation to climate change;	(i) supporting investment for adaptation to climate change including eco-system based approaches;
Amendment  35 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:	(c) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency through:
Amendment  36 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) addressing the significant needs for investment in the waste sector to meet the requirements of the Union's environmental acquis;	(i) investing in the waste sector to meet the requirements of the Union's environmental acquis and to address needs identified by the Member States for investment going beyond those requirements;
Amendment  37 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii) addressing the significant needs for investment in the water sector to meet the requirements of the Union's environmental acquis;	(ii) investing in the water sector to meet the requirements of the Union’s environmental acquis and to address needs identified by the Member States for investment going beyond those requirements;
Amendment  38 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) protecting and restoring biodiversity, including through green infrastructures;	(iii) protecting and restoring biodiversity, soil protection and restoration and promoting ecosystem services including through NATURA 2000 and green infrastructures;
Amendment  39 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv) improving the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites and reduction of air pollution;	(iv) action to improve the urban environment, revitalisation of cities, regeneration and decontamination of brownfield sites (including conversion areas), reduction of air pollution and promotion of noise-reduction measures;
Amendment  40 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(d) promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures, by:	(d) promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures, through:
Amendment  41 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) supporting a multi-modal Single European Transport Area by investing in the Trans-European Transport Network;	(i) supporting a multi-modal Single European Transport Area by investing in the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) Network;
Amendment  42 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii) developing environment-friendly and low-carbon transport systems including promoting sustainable urban mobility;	(ii) developing and improving environment-friendly (including low-noise) and low-carbon transport systems including inland waterways and maritime transport, ports, multimodal links and airport infrastructure, in order to promote sustainable regional and local mobility;
Amendment  43 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) developing comprehensive, high quality and interoperable railway systems;	(iii) developing and rehabilitating comprehensive, high quality and interoperable railway systems, and promoting noise-reduction measures;
Amendment  44 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point e
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration by strengthening of institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to implementation of the Cohesion Fund.	(e) enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and an efficient public administration by strengthening of institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to implementation of the Cohesion Fund.
Amendment  45 Proposal for a regulation Article 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1. Common indicators, as set out in the Annex to this Regulation, shall be used where relevant and in accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR]. For common indicators, baselines shall be set at zero and cumulative targets shall be set for 2022.	1. Common output indicators, as set out in the Annex to this Regulation, programme-specific result indicators and, where relevant, programme-specific output indicators shall be used in accordance with Article 24(3) and Article 87(2)(b)(ii) and (iv) of Regulation (EU) No […]/2013 [CPR].
2. For programme-specific output indicators, baselines shall be set at zero and cumulative targets shall be fixed for 2022.	2. For common and programme-specific output indicators, baselines shall be set at zero. Cumulative quantified target values for these indicators shall be fixed for 2022.
3. For programme-specific result indicators, baselines shall use the latest available data and targets shall be fixed for 2022, but may be expressed in quantitative or qualitative terms.	3. For programme-specific result indicators, which relate to investment priorities, baselines shall use the latest available data and targets shall be fixed for 2022. Targets may be expressed in quantitative or qualitative terms.
	3a. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 5a to amend the list of common output indicators in the Annex to this Regulation, in order to make adjustments, where justified to ensure effective assessment of progress in programme implementation.
Amendment  46 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2. Applications to receive assistance made under Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 shall remain valid.	2. Applications to receive assistance made or approved under Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 shall remain valid.
Amendment  47 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 5 a
	Exercise of the delegation
	1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
	2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 4(3a) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from 1 January 2014.
	3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 4(3a) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
	4. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
	5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 4(3a) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of 2 months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by 2 months at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council.
Amendment  48 Proposal for a regulation Article 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 is hereby repealed.	Without prejudice to the provisions laid down in Article 5, Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 is hereby repealed with effect from 1 January 2014.
References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation.	References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table set out in Annex X.
Amendment  49 Proposal for a regulation Article 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The European Parliament and the Council shall review this Regulation by 31 December 2022, in accordance with Article 177 of the Treaty.	The European Parliament and the Council shall review this Regulation by 31 December 2020 in accordance with Article 177 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment  50 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 1 – subheading 1
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME Solid waste tons Additional waste recycling capacity Amendment   UNIT NAME Solid waste tonnes/year Additional waste recycling capacity
Amendment  51 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 1 – subheading 2 – row 2
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME   m3 Estimated reduction of leakage in water distribution network Amendment   UNIT NAME   deleted deleted
Amendment  52 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 1 – subheading 4 – row 2
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME Risk prevention and management persons Population benefiting from forest fire protection and other protection measures Amendment   UNIT NAME Risk prevention and management persons Population benefiting from forest fire protection measures
Amendment  53 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 1 – subheading 6
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME Soil sealing hectares Change in land sealed due to development Amendment   UNIT NAME deleted deleted deleted
Amendment  54 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 1 – subheading 7
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of habitats in better conservation status Amendment   UNIT NAME Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of habitats supported to attain a better conservation status
Amendment  55 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 2 – subheading 2 - row 2
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME   kWh/year Decrease of primary energy consumption of public buildings Amendment   UNIT NAME   kWh/year Decrease of annual primary energy consumption of public buildings
Amendment  56 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 2 – subheading 3
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME GHG reduction tons of CO2eq Estimated decrease of GHG in CO2 equivalents Amendment   UNIT NAME GHG reduction tons of CO2eq Estimated annual decrease of GHG
Amendment  57 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 3 – subheading 3
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME Urban transport passenger trips Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service Amendment   UNIT NAME Urban transport km Total length of new or improved tram and metro lines
Amendment  58 Proposal for a regulation Annex – heading 3 – subheading 4
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME Inland waterways tonne-km Increase of cargo transported on improved inland waterways Amendment   UNIT NAME Inland waterways km Total length of improved or created inland waterway

• [1]  OJ C 191, 26.6.2012, p. 38.
• [2]  OJ C 225, 27.7.2012, p. 143.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Commission's proposal on the Cohesion Fund

In the context of the legislative package for Cohesion Policy as proposed by the Commission, the Cohesion Fund is part of the new Common Strategic Framework Funds, which will cover the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund, as well as the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. All those funds will be subject to common provisions in several areas of programming and financial management. Moreover, and like in the current programming period, the Cohesion Fund, the ERDF and the ESF will continue subject to a further set of common specific rules regarding programming, management and monitoring.

Although the Commission proposes a new framework for the funds, the scope and objectives specific to the Cohesion Fund are not dramatically changed as compared to the current programming period.

In its proposal for a regulation laying down the common provisions for all the funds which will replace the current General Regulation ("the CPR"), the Commission proposes a different structure of missions and goals for the funds, by submitting all the Funds to the goal of Investment for growth and jobs, in order to contribute to the Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The Cohesion Fund will contribute to this goal and this mission by supporting Member States whose gross national income (GNI) per capita is less than 90% of the average GNI per capita of the EU-27. However, the scope of action of the Cohesion Fund will continue to be directed to the provision of financial support to projects in the field of the environment and to trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure, while ensuring an appropriate balance, and according to the investment and infrastructure needs specific to each Member State (Article 2 of the proposal for a Regulation on the Cohesion Fund).

The scope of the support is nevertheless slightly modified, as Article 2(2) of the proposal for a Regulation on the Cohesion Fund modifies the cases of exclusion of support, by adding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in installations falling under Directive 2003/87/EC. The references to interest on debt, the purchase of land for an amount exceeding 10 % of the total eligible expenditure for the operation concerned, and recoverable value added tax, currently provided for in Article 3(a), (b) and (e) of the General Regulation, are now included in Article 59(3) of the CPR, which is a common provision applicable to all the CSF funds.

One of the new features as compared to the current regulation is in Article 3 of the proposal for a Regulation on the Cohesion Fund, which in accordance with the principle of thematic concentration as provided for in Article 16 of the CPR, provides that the Cohesion Fund support is subject to a list of investment priorities, within the scope as defined above and in relation to the thematic objectives as defined in Article 9 of the CPR, and in particular:

(a) supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors;

(b) promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management;

(c) protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency;

(d) promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures; and,

(e) enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration.

Each of these objectives is then divided into a specific subset of investment priorities as listed below each of those objectives.

There is now an explicit provision providing for the support to improving institutional capacity, as this is deemed to be a particular need in the field of Cohesion Policy given the size and the significance of the projects that are to be supported.

Like for the current transitional scheme provided for in Article 8(3) of the General Regulation, the CPR stipulates that those Member States eligible for the Cohesion Fund financing in 2013, but whose nominal GNI per capita exceeds 90% of the average GNI per capita of the EU-27 shall receive support from the Cohesion Fund on a transitional and specific basis.

The provisions on conditionality contained in Article 4 of the General Regulation are now part of the CPR (Title II, Chapters III and IV).

The proposal for a Regulation on the Cohesion Fund contains other new elements, as compared to the Regulation currently in force. In the context of the pursuit for a more results-oriented process to ensure that cohesion policy programmes are oriented towards results, and the effective implementation of the Funds, and like in the case of the ERDF, the Commission introduces common indicators for the Cohesion Fund (Article 4 and Annex of the proposal for a Regulation on the Cohesion Fund), in order to assess progress of programme implementation towards the achievement of the objectives (Article 24(3) of the CPR).

The outcome of the trilogue

The Cohesion Fund trilogue was conducted by following to the maximum possible extent in the negotiations the position voted by the REGI Committee on 12 July 2012. The outcome is a truly satisfactory one, as it was possible to keep the line drawn by most of the Parliament's amendments, and by the most important ones in particular.

It was also sought to have a good degree of coordination and synergy with the other regulations, and this is particularly true with regard to the ERDF, where the efforts made it possible to align the corresponding investment priorities, so as to guarantee simpler rules and easier interpretation for the beneficiaries.

The scope of the Cohesion Fund (Article 2 of the proposal for a Regulation on the Cohesion Fund) was broadened, in line with the mandate, to include the support to energy efficiency and renewable energy use in the housing sector - as already foreseen for public infrastructures and enterprises - and to allow for the insertion in the investment priorities of support for high efficiency district heating and cogeneration of heat and power.

The main reason is that according to the latest available figures, including the European Commission's ones, with the current trends the EU would be able to achieve only less than half of the set target of 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020. The Cohesion Fund's support for energy efficiency and renewable energy use in private housing represents the most cost-effective way to achieve the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

A similar observation can be made concerning high efficiency district heating and cogeneration of heat and power, having in mind their importance in the Cohesion Fund Member States, their ample margins of development, and the highly positive impact on the environment that can be achieved through increased energy efficiency and use of renewable energies, thus benefitting emissions reduction and energy security.

Despite of the initial resistance opposed by the Council and the Commission, a reference was maintained in relation to the support that might be granted by the Cohesion Fund to the Connecting Europe Facility's transport infrastructure projects in Cohesion Member States. This was done given that if Cohesion Fund resources are actually transferred, this cannot be done without a reference in this Regulation, even though the actual rules regulating the transfer are to be decided in art. 84 CPR. It must be pointed out that all this matter is subject to the final outcome of the CPR and MFF negotiations, both in terms of feasibility of the transfer, and of actual amounts to be transferred.

In the spirit of alignment with the ERDF regulation, it was decided to introduce also in the Cohesion Fund regulation the explicit exclusion of support for the manufacturing, processing and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products, and for undertakings in difficulties as defined under Union State aid rules.

An important change, once again in line with what requested by the Parliament, concerns the enterprises to be made eligible for support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, as an agreement has been reached so as to make it possible also for enterprises other than SMEs to receive support.

In the investment priorities (Article 3), particular attention has been paid to environmental issues. Apart from the support to energy efficiency and renewable energy in housing, and to district heating and cogeneration, an important agreement has been reached for the waste and water sectors, implying that investments in these sectors will be possible not only to meet the requirements of the Union's environmental acquis but also to go beyond that and address the needs identified by the Member States.

The support for Natura 2000 and for environmental friendly transport are as well the result of such approach.

The issue of the macroeconomic conditionality has been discused thoroughly, and an agreement has finally been reached so as to leave any decision on such topic to the CPR negotiations, deemed to be the best place to address the problem from a more general point of view.

Finally, common indicators have been discussed several times with the Negotiating Teams of the other regulations in order to find a solution common to ERDF, ETC and the Cohesion Fund. The final agreement reached with Council and Commission foresees an interinstitutional agreement between the three institutions, so as to guarantee the original proposal made for the annexes by the Commission after long consultations with experts remains unchanged. Any future changes, where needed, will anyway be possible through delegated acts.

Apart from the legal provisions finalised during Interinstitutional negotiations, the agreement on the text on common output indicators is accompanied by the following Joint declaration of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the application of Article 6 of the ERDF Regulation, Article 15 of the ETC Regulation and Article 4 of the Cohesion Fund Regulation:

'The European Parliament and the Council note the assurance provided by the Commission to the EU legislature that the common output indicators for the ERDF Regulation, the ETC Regulation and the Cohesion Fund Regulation to be included in an annex to, respectively, each regulation, are the outcome of a lengthy preparatory process involving the evaluation experts of both the Commission and the Member States and, in principle, are expected to remain stable'.

OPINION of the Committee on Budgets (21.6.2012)

for the Committee on Regional Development

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Cohesion fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
(COM(2011)0612 – C7‑0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD))

Rapporteur: Andrea Cozzolino

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

As foreseen by Article 177 and Protocol No 28 of the TFEU, the Cohesion Fund helps Member States whose GNI per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making investments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment. In application of the Treaty, the European Commission's proposal provides that in the field of environment, the Cohesion Fund would support investment in climate change adaptation and risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and the urban environment. Investment in energy would also be eligible for support, provided it has positive environmental benefits. In the field of transport, according to the Commission's proposal, the Cohesion Fund will contribute to investments in the core Trans-European Transport Network, as well as low-carbon transport systems and urban transport.

The European Commission proposes to allocate to this fund EUR 68,7 billion (in 2011 constant prices). This amount is not specified in this cohesion fund regulation, but in article 84 of the proposed regulation laying down common provisions for all funds [CPR].[1] By comparison in the current Multiannual Financial Framework, the cohesion fund was allocated approximately EUR 71 billion (in 2011 constant prices).

In EUR billion, constant 2011 prices,

	MFF 2007 - 2013	MFF 2014 - 2020	Change
ERDF	203	183	- 10 %
ESF	78	84	+ 8 %
Cohesion Fund	71	69	- 3 %
Total	354	336	- 5,3 %

Due to rounding, figures may not add-up exactly to the total shown

Your Rapporteur regrets this decrease and recalls the conviction expressed by the European Parliament in its resolution of 8 June 2011 that "at least a 5% increase of resources is needed for the next MFF" compared to the 2013 level to reach the agreed political and legal objectives and that "the amounts allocated to cohesion policy in the current financial programming period should be at least maintained in the next period".

Furthermore, EUR 10 billion of the EUR 68,7 billion would be ring-fenced to finance core transport networks under the "Connecting Europe Facility" (CEF). It should be noted that these EUR 10 billions remain allocated to Member States whose GNI per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average but they will be directly allocated to core Transeuropean transport network projects in those Member States and deducted from the national allocations accordingly, on a pro-rata basis. It should further be stressed that these projects will comply with the revised TEN-T guidelines currently under discussion. Finally, these EUR 10 billion will benefit from the more favourable financial support conditions provided by the Cohesion Fund (a higher co-funding rate of up to 85% than the 50% foreseen under the CEF).

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on Regional Development, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1 Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 1a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	1a. Recalls its resolution of 8 June 2011 on Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe1; reiterates that sufficient additional resources are needed in the next MFF in order to enable the Union to fulfil its existing policy priorities and the new tasks provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon, as well as to respond to unforeseen events; points out that, even with an increase in the level of resources for the next MFF of at least 5% compared to the 2013 level, only a limited contribution can be made to the achievement of the Union's agreed objectives and commitments and the principle of Union solidarity; challenges the Council, if it does not share this approach, to clearly identify which of its political priorities or projects could be dropped altogether, despite their proven European added value;
	_________________
	1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(011)0266.
Amendment  2 Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 1b (new)
Draft legislative resolution	Amendment
	1b. Recalls, in particular, that in its resolution of 8 June 2011 on "Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe", the European Parliament stresses that “a successful and strengthened cohesion policy needs adequate funding” and concludes that “the amounts allocated to it in the current financial programming period should be at least maintained in the next period”;
Amendment  3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	1a. In its resolution of 8 June 2011 on Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe, the European Parliament stressed "the European added value of cohesion policy, as this policy constitutes a well-established mechanism of delivering growth and jobs, a major tool for convergence, sustainable development and solidarity and one of the Union's most significant, visible, and successful policies for decades". The European Parliament pointed out, however, that a modern cohesion policy must undertake a number of structural reforms, in particular in the field of simplification, respond to the main challenges facing the Union, and promote synergies with other policies and instruments on the ground. The European Parliament expressed its conviction that EU cohesion policy should remain an EU wide policy giving access to resources, experiences and assistance to all EU regions.
Justification
Paragraph 64 of the European Parliament's resolution of 8 June 2011 "Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe"
Amendment  4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	1b. In its resolution of 8 June 2011, the European Parliament further stressed that a successful and strengthened cohesion policy needs adequate funding, and that the amounts allocated to it in the current financial programming period should be, at least, maintained in the next period in order to step up its efforts to reduce development disparities between EU regions. During the 2007-2013 MFF, the cohesion fund was allocated EUR 71 billion (in 2011 constant prices). However, the Commission proposes to allocate EUR 68,7 billion (in 2011 constant prices) for 2014-2020, whichwould amount to a decrease of 3% compared to the 2007-2013 period.
Justification
Paragraph 67 of the European Parliament's resolution of 8 June 2011 "Investing in the future: a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe"
Amendment  5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(2) Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 of […] laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 [Common Provisions Regulation - CPR] establishes a new framework for the action of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. It is necessary to specify the objectives of the Cohesion Fund in relation to the new framework for its action and in relation to the purpose assigned to it in the Treaty.	(2) Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 of […] laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 [Common Provisions Regulation - CPR] establishes a new framework for the action of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. It is necessary to specify the objectives of the Cohesion Fund in relation to the new framework for its action and in relation to the purpose assigned to it in the Treaty. Synergies should also be fostered between the cohesion fund and other EU instruments and programmes, relevant to transport, energy, climate, and environmental policy
Amendment  6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(3) The Union may, through the Cohesion Fund, contribute to actions in pursuit of the Union's environmental objectives specified in Articles 11 and 191 of the Treaty.	(3) The Union should, through the Cohesion Fund, also contribute to actions in pursuit of the Union's environmental objectives specified in Articles 11 and 191 of the Treaty.
Amendment  7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Trans-European transport network projects financed by the Cohesion Fund are to comply with the guidelines adopted by Decision No 661/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. In order to concentrate efforts, priority should be given to projects of common interest as defined in that Decision.	Trans-European transport network projects financed by the Cohesion Fund are to comply with the guidelines set out in Regulation (EU) No [....]/20121 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. In order to concentrate efforts, priority should be given to projects of common interest as defined in that Decision.
	______________
	1 OJ L …
Justification
Reference should be made to the TEN-T guidelines currently under negotiation.
Amendment  8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	7a. It is important to ensure sound financial management of the programme, and that it is implemented in the most effective and user-friendly manner possible, while also ensuring legal certainty and the accessibility of the instrument for all participants. Since activities under the cohesion fund are carried out under shared management, Member States should refrain from adding additional rules, which complicate the usage of funds for the beneficiary

PROCEDURE

Title	Cohesion Fund and repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
References	COM(2011)0612 – C7-0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	REGI 25.10.2011
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	BUDG 25.10.2011
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Andrea Cozzolino 6.2.2012
Date adopted	20.6.2012
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	30 2 0
Members present for the final vote	Richard Ashworth, Francesca Balzani, Reimer Böge, Zuzana Brzobohatá, Andrea Cozzolino, James Elles, Eider Gardiazábal Rubial, Jens Geier, Ivars Godmanis, Ingeborg Gräßle, Lucas Hartong, Jutta Haug, Sidonia Elżbieta Jędrzejewska, Anne E. Jensen, Ivailo Kalfin, Sergej Kozlík, Giovanni La Via, Barbara Matera, Claudio Morganti, Juan Andrés Naranjo Escobar, Nadezhda Neynsky, Alda Sousa, László Surján, Helga Trüpel, Angelika Werthmann
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Alexander Alvaro, Jürgen Klute, Jan Mulder, María Muñiz De Urquiza, Paul Rübig, Peter Šťastný, Theodor Dumitru Stolojan
Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote	Bogdan Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz

• [1]  COM (2011) 615

OPINION of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (22.6.2012)

for the Committee on Regional Development

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
(COM(2011)0612 – C7‑0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD))

Rapporteur: Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

Cohesion policy is an essential element of European development and plays a crucial role in delivering the Europe 2020 objectives. This proposal is part of a wider legislative package put forward by the Commission that brings important changes to the way cohesion policy is designed and implemented, in order to maximise its impact in delivering European priorities. The new framework aims to deliver a common set of basic rules governing all structural instruments. It defines a list of thematic objectives in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, as well as setting out provisions concerning conditionalities and performance review, arrangements for monitoring, reporting and evaluation, management and control.

In this context, the proposal sets out the specific provisions governing the Cohesion Fund, a structural instrument which helps Member States whose Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making investments in transport networks and the environment.

The Regulation determines the scope of intervention of the Fund: according to the Commission proposal, in the environmental field the Cohesion Fund shall promote the shift towards a low carbon economy in all sectors, support investment in climate change adaptation and risk prevention, investment in the water and waste sectors and in the urban environment. Investment in energy is also eligible for support if it has clear positive environmental benefits, for example by promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy. In the field of transport, the Cohesion Fund shall contribute to investments in the Trans-European Transport Network, as well as low-carbon transport systems and sustainable urban transport.

The Rapporteur welcomes the new framework proposed by the Commission and the proposal for the specific provisions governing the Cohesion Fund. However, the Rapporteur believes that cohesion policy, viewed as a fundamental instrument for sustainable development of the European Union, should be subject to a holistic approach that takes into account at the same time the protection of the environment, the adoption of an integrated energy policy, the creation of jobs, the development of sustainable transport and of "smart cities" that ensure a high quality of life to their citizens. Stronger emphasis should be put on conditionalities for accessing the structural funds, and the funds need to be managed in full transparency, ensuring that real "quality money" is spent by Member States and regions under the supervision of the European Union.

With this goal in mind, the Rapporteur would like to introduce a number of amendments to improve the specific proposal on the Cohesion Fund.

First of all, an integrated approach is essential for sustainable urban development: achieving "smart cities" means tackling at once issues related to energy efficiency and production, accessibility, green open spaces, social integration and adaptation of human habitats to the requirements of sustainability. Therefore, several amendments have been introduced in order to better focus the Cohesion Fund on the integrated urban dimension.

In addition, capacity building and technical assistance are key towards achieving positive and lasting consequences from the Cohesion Fund, by fostering the efficiency and transparency of public administrations and private actors involved in the management of the fund. The Union should promote good governance and smart specialisation through the implementation of its cohesion policy.

Moreover, the Cohesion Fund can be an important occasion to foster an ecosystem-based approach to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and landscapes, as well as the improvement of the interface between urban and rural areas, towards the promotion of an integral territorial cohesion that includes the urban habitat and the preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage.

Finally, common indicators that measure the achievement of the targets of the Fund should be complemented by new and clearer indicators for sustainable development. Such indicators need to take into account the creation of jobs achieved by means of the Cohesion Fund, and via private investment matching public support; new indicators should also be introduced to measure explicitly the introduction and implementation of urban strategies that strive towards the development of "smart cities" for our future.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety calls on the Committee on Regional Development, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(6) In order to address the specific needs of the Cohesion Fund, and in line with the Europe 2020 strategy that cohesion policy should support the need to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, it is necessary to set out investment priorities within the scope of the thematic objectives laid down in Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR].	(6) In order to address the specific needs of the Cohesion Fund, and in line with the Europe 2020 strategy that cohesion policy should support the need to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth while minimising the external costs for society of the activities supported, it is necessary to set out investment priorities within the scope of the thematic objectives laid down in Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR].
Amendment  2 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) investments in the environment, including areas related to sustainable development and energy which present environmental benefits;	(a) investments in the environment, including areas related to sustainable development, renewable energy and energy savings which present environmental benefits;
Amendment  3 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) technical assistance.	(c) technical assistance and capacity building.
Amendment  4 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ca) technical assistance to achieve the goals of Europe 2020 and smart specialisations.
Amendment  5 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) housing.	deleted
Amendment  6 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) promoting the production and distribution of renewable energy sources;	(i) promoting the production and further developing the infrastructural capacity for the distribution of renewable energy and of information technology;
Justification
Appropriate support should be given for further development of the distribution capacity so that it can respond to the volumes produced and thus support a wider use of renewable energy.
Amendment  7 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii) promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in small and medium-sized enterprises;	(ii) promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in undertakings, in particular in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
Amendment  8 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructures;	(iii) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public and private infrastructures;
Amendment  9 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructures;	(iii) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructures as well as in the housing sector;
Justification
Supporting the refurbishment of houses and investments that increase the energy efficiency of the housing sector would help people to make energy savings, thus contributing to the EU's environmental policy objectives and creating significant opportunities for green jobs. This is all the more important when Member States face austerity and lack the financial resources to support such investments.
Amendment  10 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point iii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiia) supporting the adaptation of human habitats in urban and rural areas to energy efficiency requirements and renewable energy use;
Amendment  11 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv) developing smart distribution systems at low voltage levels;	(iv) developing smart distribution systems at low and medium voltage levels;
Amendment  12 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point v
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(v) promoting low-carbon strategies for urban areas;	(v) promoting low-carbon strategies and sustainable, smart and integrated energy action plans for urban areas, including the promotion of sustainable urban mobility, clean public transport and measures relevant to climate mitigation and adaptation;
Amendment  13 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point v a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(v a) supporting the development of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology;
Justification
Carbon Capture and Storage technology is crucial to reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power plants and industrial installations, but the technology is immature and will be initially expensive to develop. While Cohesion Funds should not be available to support the construction of new fossil fuel power plants, however efficient they may be, it should be possible to use them to support development of the technology which has the sole purpose of avoiding CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Amendment  14 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management by:	(b) promoting ecosystem-based climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management by:
Amendment  15 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point b – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) supporting dedicated investment for adaptation to climate change;	(i) supporting dedicated investment for adaptation to climate change, including restoration of river and coastal ecosystems for the purposes of flood protection;
Amendment  16 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point b – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii) promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems;	(ii) promoting investment, and technical and institutional capacity, to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems;
Amendment  17 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:	(c) protecting the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems and promoting resource efficiency by:
Amendment  18 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ia) promoting the renewal of water infrastructure in order to reach a higher level of resource efficiency, in historic cities in particular, where important amounts of water are lost during its distribution.
Amendment  19 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iia) promoting innovation in the water sector and the installation of new technology for the control of underground water resources.
Amendment  20 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) protecting and restoring biodiversity, including through green infrastructures;	(iii) protecting and restoring biodiversity, soil quality, landscapes of importance to cultural heritage and promoting ecosystem services, including through green infrastructures and management of Natura 2000 sites;
Amendment  21 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiia) promoting a coherent inter-relationship between urban and rural areas to improve environmental sustainability;
Amendment  22 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iii b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiib) promoting integrated urban development strategies for smart cities that take a holistic approach to energy efficiency, accessibility, green spaces, adaptation of habitats and social integration;
Amendment  23 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv) improving the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites and reduction of air pollution.	(iv) improving the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites, creation of green spaces, reduction of air pollution and adopting measures aimed at protecting and preserving historical and cultural heritage.
Amendment  24 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) supporting a multi-modal Single European Transport Area by investing in the Trans-European Transport Network;	(i) supporting a multi-modal Single European Transport Area by investing in the Trans-European Transport Network including sustainable waterborne transport;
Amendment  25 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
ii) developing environment-friendly and low-carbon transport systems including promoting sustainable urban mobility;	ii) developing integrated, intermodal, environment-friendly and low-carbon local public transport systems including promoting sustainable urban and suburban mobility;
Amendment  26 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point e
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration by strengthening of institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to implementation of the Cohesion Fund.	(e) enhancing institutional capacity and efficient public administration by providing technical assistance and fostering the efficiency of public administrations and public services with a view to an effective and transparent implementation of the Cohesion Fund.
Amendment  27 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row -1 (new)
Text proposed by the Commission   Amendment Productive investment     Growth and jobs undertakings Number of undertakings receiving grants   EUR Private investment equalling public support   full-time equivalents Number of jobs created via the funding
Amendment  28 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – column 3 – row 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Additional waste recycling capacity	Additional waste reuse and recycling capacity
Amendment  29 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 2 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission   Amendment   Persons Additional population served by public schemes for waste separation and recycling
Amendment  30 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 9 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission   Amendment   hectares Area of land with increased capacity to prevent and mitigate floods and extreme weather conditions   hectares Area of land with increased capacity to prevent and resist forest fires
Amendment  31 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 12
Text proposed by the Commission Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of habitats in better conservation status Amendment Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of marine and land habitats in better conservation status   hectares New green infrastructure   m2 New green spaces in urban areas
Amendment  32 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 14a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission   Amendment   percentage Share of renewable energy sources in total energy consumption
Justification
This indicator is useful for measuring progress towards achieving the 20% target in the EU 2020 Strategy.
Amendment  33 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 15
Text proposed by the Commission   kWh/year Decrease of primary energy consumption of public buildings Amendment   kWh/year Decrease of primary energy consumption of buildings
Justification
The energy efficiency indicator should measure performance for all buildings, not only for public ones.
Amendment  34 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 15 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission   Amendment   undertakings Number of undertakings with improved energy efficiency, including SMEs
Amendment  35 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 18 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission   Amendment Urban Development       persons Population living in areas with integrated urban development strategies   m2 New green spaces in urban areas   persons Population living in areas benefitting from improved cultural heritage and preserved historical buildings   EUR Investment in the dynamisation of economic activities in urban areas
Amendment  36 Proposal for a regulation Annex – table – row 24 – column 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service	Increase of passenger trips using supported urban and suburban public transport service

PROCEDURE

Title	Cohesion Fund and repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
References	COM(2011)0612 – C7-0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	REGI 25.10.2011
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	ENVI 25.10.2011
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines 8.11.2011
Discussed in committee	7.5.2012
Date adopted	20.6.2012
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	55 0 0
Members present for the final vote	Elena Oana Antonescu, Sophie Auconie, Pilar Ayuso, Paolo Bartolozzi, Lajos Bokros, Martin Callanan, Nessa Childers, Yves Cochet, Chris Davies, Edite Estrela, Jill Evans, Karl-Heinz Florenz, Elisabetta Gardini, Matthias Groote, Françoise Grossetête, Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines, Satu Hassi, Jolanta Emilia Hibner, Dan Jørgensen, Christa Klaß, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Holger Krahmer, Peter Liese, Kartika Tamara Liotard, Zofija Mazej Kukovič, Linda McAvan, Miroslav Ouzký, Andres Perello Rodriguez, Mario Pirillo, Pavel Poc, Frédérique Ries, Anna Rosbach, Oreste Rossi, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, Carl Schlyter, Carl Schlyter, Richard Seeber, Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu, Anja Weisgerber, Åsa Westlund, Glenis Willmott, Sabine Wils, Marina Yannakoudakis
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Margrete Auken, Erik Bánki, Cristian Silviu Buşoi, Minodora Cliveti, Gaston Franco, Vittorio Prodi, Birgit Schnieber-Jastram, Rebecca Taylor, Eleni Theocharous, Marita Ulvskog, Anna Záborská, Andrea Zanoni
Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote	Véronique Mathieu

OPINION of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (21.6.2012)

for the Committee on Regional Development

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
(COM(2011)0612/2 – C7‑0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD))

Rapporteur: Patrizia Toia

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The European Council on Energy in February 2011 emphasised that "the 2020 20% energy efficiency target…, which is presently not on track, must be delivered. This requires determined action to tap the considerable potential for higher energy savings of buildings, transport and products and processes".

Buildings must be central to the EU's energy efficiency policy, as nearly 40%6 of final

energy consumption (and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions) is in houses, offices, shops and other buildings. Moreover, buildings provide the second largest untapped cost-effective potential for energy savings after the energy sector.

The cost-effective energy savings potential in the building sector (i.e. covering both residential and non-residential buildings) is estimated to be 65 Mtoe[1], corresponding to a cumulated investment need of approximately 587 billion € for the period 2011-2020. This translates to an investment need of around 60 billion € per year to realise this savings potential.

Your rapporteur for opinion recommends therefore that Member Sates and the Regions be given the flexibility to decide if they want to concentrate their investments on energy efficiency on public infrastructures and/or in the housing sector.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy calls on the Committee on Regional Development, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1) Article 174 of the Treaty provides that the Union should develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. The Cohesion Fund should therefore provide a financial contribution to projects in the field of the environment and to trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure.	(1) Article 174 of the Treaty provides that the Union should develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. The Cohesion Fund should therefore provide a financial contribution to projects in the field of the environment and to trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure and in areas related to sustainable development which clearly offer environmental benefits, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Amendment  2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(1a) Energy efficiency targets can best be reached by involving as many parties as possible, public as well as private, by aiming for the achievement of leverage effects, the creation of jobs, and the contribution to greener growth, in line with the goal of a competitive and sustainable Europe.
Amendment  3 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) investments in the environment, including areas related to sustainable development and energy which present environmental benefits;	(a) investments in the environment, including in areas related to sustainable development and energy which present environmental benefits, and which contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions;
Amendment  4 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ca) Technical assistance to develop capacity building in urban management.
Amendment  5 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(cb) Technical assistance to achieve the goals of Europe 20/20 and smart 'specialities'.
Amendment  6 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 - paragraph 2 - point b
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b) the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in installations falling under Directive 2003/87/EC;	(b) investment to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities falling under annex 1 of Directive 2003/87/EC;
Justification
Clearer wording
Amendment  7 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 - paragraph 2 - point c
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c) housing.	(c) housing except for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use.
Justification
See amendment to Article 3(a) - (iii)
Amendment  8 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) promoting the production and distribution of renewable energy sources;	(i) promoting the production and distribution of renewable energy sources and of information technology.
Amendment  9 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 - point a - point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructures;	(iii) supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in public infrastructures and in the housing sector;
Justification
More flexibility on investment priorities needed on this point
Amendment  10 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 - point a - point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv) developing smart distribution systems at low voltage levels;	(iv) developing smart distribution systems at low and medium voltage levels;
Amendment  11 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 - point a - point v
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(v) promoting low-carbon strategies for urban areas;	(v) promoting low-carbon strategies for all types of territories, in particular urban areas, including the promotion of sustainable urban mobility, clean public transport and mitigation relevant adaptation measures;
Amendment  12 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point i a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ia) promoting the renewal of water infrastructure in order to reach a higher level of resource efficiency, in historic cities in particular, where important amounts of water are lost during the distribution.
Amendment  13 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point ii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iia) promoting innovation in the water sector and the installation of new technology for the control of underground water resources.
Amendment  14 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii) protecting and restoring biodiversity, including through green infrastructures;	(iii) protecting and restoring biodiversity, including through green infrastructures and Natura 2000;
Amendment  15 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv) improving the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites and reduction of air pollution.	(iv) improving the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites, reduction of air pollution, and measures aimed at the protection and preservation of historical and cultural heritage.
Amendment  16 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point c – point iv a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iv) (a) developing and supporting provision of environmental services, promoting improvement of environmental performance and resource efficiency in SMEs and the public sector;
Amendment  17 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(d) promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures, by:	(d) promoting intermodal sustainable transport and mobility while focusing on removing bottlenecks, and on completing missing transborder links in sustainable and intermodal transport infrastructures, by
Amendment  18 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point e
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration by strengthening of institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to implementation of the Cohesion Fund.	(e) enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration by strengthening of institutional capacity, innovation capacity, and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to implementation of the Cohesion Fund.
Amendment  19 Proposal for a regulation Annex 1
Text proposed by the Commission   UNIT NAME Environment     Solid waste tons Additional waste recycling capacity Water supply persons Additional population served by improved water supply   m3 Estimated reduction of leakage in water distribution network Wastewater treatment population equivalent Additional population served by improved wastewater treatment             Risk prevention and management persons Population benefiting from flood protection measures   persons Population benefiting from forest fire protection and other protection measures Land rehabilitation hectares Total surface area of rehabilitated land Soil sealing hectares Change in land sealed due to development Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of habitats in better conservation status Energy and climate change     Renewables MW Additional capacity of renewable energy production Energy efficiency households Number of households with improved energy consumption classification   kWh/year Decrease of primary energy consumption of public buildings   users Number of additional energy users connected to smart grids GHG reduction tons of CO2eq Estimated decrease of GHG in CO2 equivalents Transport     Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line Roads km Total length of newly built roads   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded roads Urban transport passenger trips Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service Inland waterways tonne-km Increase of cargo transported on improved inland waterways Amendment   UNIT NAME Environment     Solid waste tons Additional waste recycling capacity Water supply persons Additional population served by improved water supply   m3 Estimated reduction of leakage in water distribution network Wastewater treatment population equivalent Additional population served by improved wastewater treatment Environmental Services Number Number of SMEs and public authorities benefitting from environmental performance services Risk prevention and management persons Population benefiting from flood protection measures   persons Population benefiting from forest fire protection and other protection measures Land rehabilitation hectares Total surface area of rehabilitated land Soil sealing hectares Change in land sealed due to development Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of habitats in better conservation status Energy and climate change     Renewables MW Additional capacity of renewable energy production   % Share of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption Energy efficiency households Number of households with improved energy consumption classification   kWh/year Decrease of primary energy consumption of public buildings   Tonnes of oil equivalent Gross energy consumption per sector   users Number of additional energy users connected to smart grids GHG reduction tons of CO2eq Estimated decrease of GHG in CO2 equivalents Transport     Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line Roads km Total length of newly built roads   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded roads Urban transport passenger trips Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service Inland waterways tonne-km Increase of cargo transported on improved inland waterways

PROCEDURE

Title	Cohesion Fund and repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
References	COM(2011)0612 – C7-0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	REGI 25.10.2011
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	ITRE 25.10.2011
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Patrizia Toia 15.11.2011
Discussed in committee	23.4.2012
Date adopted	19.6.2012
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	51 0 3
Members present for the final vote	Amelia Andersdotter, Josefa Andrés Barea, Zigmantas Balčytis, Ivo Belet, Bendt Bendtsen, Jan Březina, Reinhard Bütikofer, Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Giles Chichester, Jürgen Creutzmann, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Vicky Ford, Gaston Franco, Adam Gierek, Norbert Glante, Fiona Hall, Kent Johansson, Romana Jordan, Krišjānis Kariņš, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Philippe Lamberts, Bogdan Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, Marisa Matias, Jaroslav Paška, Aldo Patriciello, Vittorio Prodi, Miloslav Ransdorf, Teresa Riera Madurell, Michèle Rivasi, Paul Rübig, Salvador Sedó i Alabart, Francisco Sosa Wagner, Konrad Szymański, Patrizia Toia, Ioannis A. Tsoukalas, Claude Turmes, Niki Tzavela, Marita Ulvskog, Vladimir Urutchev, Adina-Ioana Vălean, Kathleen Van Brempt, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Henri Weber
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Antonio Cancian, António Fernando Correia de Campos, Ioan Enciu, Roger Helmer, Jolanta Emilia Hibner, Ivailo Kalfin, Seán Kelly, Werner Langen, Mario Pirillo, Lambert van Nistelrooij
Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote	Jorgo Chatzimarkakis

• [1]  see Commission Consultation paper "Financial support for Energy efficiency in buildings"; Eichhammer, W. et al.: Study on the Energy Savings Potentials in EU Member States, Candidate Countries and EEA Countries. 2009; Wesselink, B. et al.: Energy Savings 2020 – How to triple the impact of energy saving policies in Europe. Report to the European Climate Foundation, 2010

OPINION of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (20.6.2012)

for the Committee on Regional Development

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
(COM(2011)0612/2 – C7‑0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD))

Rapporteur: Michael Cramer

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

Commission's proposal

This regulation establishes the provisions governing the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006. The Cohesion Fund supports Member States whose GNI per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU27 average in making investments in TEN-T transport networks and the environment, as well as the environmentally beneficial energy projects. In order to ensure the coherence with the Transeuropean Transport Networks (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the proposal foresees 10 billion EUR of the 2014-2020 Cohesion Fund allocation to be ring-fenced in order to finance core transport networks under the Connecting Europe Facility.

Rapporteur's point of view

The rapporteur supports the Commission's proposal but advocates for a better integration of the EU 2020 targets into the EU's structural instruments, in particular when it comes to funding priorities. Furthermore, coherence between this regulation and those on the Transeuropean Transport Networks (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is indispensable.

He endorses a result-oriented approach and supports the increased use of (ex ante-) conditionality when it comes to a shift towards more sustainable and efficient transport and mobility as well as to safety, noise reduction, environmental legislation and the protection of the climate and biodiversity.

The transport sector is responsible for approximately 24% of all CO2 emissions and has seen them increase by 34% since 1990. Given the time needed to design and deliver large-scale infrastructure projects, investments made over the next years will determine transport and mobility over the next decades. In order to ensure the quality standard of living for the next generations of the EU citizens, European projects should support sustainable modes, focusing on mobility chains that combine walking, cycling, car sharing, car pooling and public transport and are flexible enough to accommodate new mobility solutions.

As the Cohesion Fund and the ERDF are a major source of EU transport funding it is crucial to shift the EU's funding priorities within their respective frameworks and to focus on investments in smart and sustainable mobility in order to avoid, or at least limit, any related external costs in the future. This will also reduce the burden on future public budgets at the level of regions, Member States and the EU. Europe can no longer afford to support extremely costly and lengthy large-scale projects. Instead of "thinking big" the EU start to "act smart".

In this respect, the European added value is decisive and it is the rapporteur's view that the focus of structural support should be put on reinforcing intermodality and removing bottlenecks, filling-in missing trans-border links as well as ensuring that legislation related to safety and the protection of the environment, the climate and biodiversity is fully respected. To this end there is a need for better environmental impact assessments and clear ex ante criteria in order to incentivise the beneficiaries and make them rethink their policies at national, regional and local level.

This point of view is reflected by the following amendments.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Regional Development, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1) Article 174 of the Treaty provides that the Union should develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. The Cohesion Fund should therefore provide a financial contribution to projects in the field of the environment and to trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure.	(1) Article 174 of the Treaty provides that the Union should develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. The Cohesion Fund should therefore provide a financial contribution to projects with a European added value in the field of the environment and to trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure.
Amendment  2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(4) Trans-European transport network projects financed by the Cohesion Fund are to comply with the guidelines adopted by Decision No 661/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network9. In order to concentrate efforts, priority should be given to projects of common interest as defined in that Decision.	(4) Trans-European transport network projects financed by the Cohesion Fund are to comply with the guidelines adopted by Decision No 661/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network9. In order to concentrate efforts, priority should be given to projects of common interest as defined in that Decision after their precise definition and delimitation of their key objectives.
Amendment  3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4a) When devising, framing, and implementing projects, provision should be made for accessibility for persons with disabilities, as referred to in Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Justification
The EU and most of the Member States are parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the other Member States are in the process of ratifying it. That being the case, an active commitment should be made to removing all the remaining barriers, not least by using cohesion policy funding to that end.
Amendment  4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4 b) the EU transport sector accounts for 24% of all CO2 emissions in the EU and has seen its emissions increase by 34% since 19901, a shift towards more support for sustainable mobility is crucial to achieve the objectives laid down in the Commission's White Paper – Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system2 and the corresponding resolution of the European Parliament of 15 December 20113;
	__________________
	1 see European Environment Agency (2009): Report No 9/2009 - Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2009. Tracking progress towards Kyoto targets
	2 COM2011(144)
	3 P7_TA(2011)0584
Amendment  5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4 c) Given that the number of missing links in sustainable trans-border connections, such as rail, has increased in many regions since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the EU should prioritise the revitalisation of trans-border connections, in particular between and to New Member States, as these projects provide a real European added value while contributing to the protection of the environment, the climate and biodiversity and improving access to the Transeuropean Transport Networks (TEN-T);
Amendment  6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 d (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4d) 90 % of all car trips in European cities are shorter than 6 km and hence have considerable potential for modal shift towards walking, cycling and public transport;
Amendment  7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 e (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4 e) New funding priorities are indispensable, given that the major share of transport investments provided by the Cohesion Fund has in the past been directed towards road transport; although road transport is already responsible for 72 % of all greenhouse gas emissions originating from the Union transport sector1;
	__________________
	1 see European Environment Agency (2011): EEA Report No 7/2011 - TERM 2011: transport indicators tracking progress. towards environmental targets in Europe
Amendment  8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(6) In order to address the specific needs of the Cohesion Fund, and in line with the Europe 2020 strategy that cohesion policy should support the need to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth11 , it is necessary to set out investment priorities within the scope of the thematic objectives laid down in Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR].	(6) In order to address the specific needs of the Cohesion Fund, and in line with the Europe 2020 strategy that cohesion policy should support the principle of territorial cohesion and the need to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth11 while minimising external costs, it is necessary to set out investment priorities within the scope of the thematic objectives laid down in Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR].
Amendment  9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(6a) Article 195 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that the Union shall complement the action of the Member States in the tourism sector, in particular by promoting the competitiveness of Union undertakings in that sector;
Justification
Since the entry into force, tourism is explicitly defined as one of the policy areas where the EU can take action. This change needs to be reflected in legislation and funding rules.
Amendment  10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7) A common set of indicators to assess progress of programme implementation should be set out before the Member States draft their operational programmes. These indicators should be complemented by programme-specific indicators.	(7) In accordance with a results approach based on the Europe 2020 strategy, a common set of indicators to assess progress of programme implementation should be set out before the Member States draft their operational programmes. These indicators should be complemented by programme-specific indicators.
Amendment  11 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a) investments in the environment, including areas related to sustainable development and energy which present environmental benefits;	(a) investments in the environment, including areas related to sustainable development, sustainable tourism and renewable energy which present environmental benefits;
Amendment  12 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point a – point v
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(v) promoting low-carbon strategies for urban areas;	(v) promoting low-carbon strategies for regional, local, rural and urban areas, particularly as regards sustainable intermodal transport and mobility;
Amendment  13 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e) promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures, by:	(e) promoting efficient co-modality aiming at sustainable, safe and eco-efficient transport and mobility, while focusing on improving existing infrastructure, bridging missing links in cross-border connections and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures, including connections to regional, local, rural and urban areas;
Amendment  14 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i) supporting a multi-modal Single European Transport Area by investing in the Trans-European Transport Network;	(i) supporting a sustainable, safe and efficient co-modal Single European Transport Area by investing in the Trans-European Transport Network while focusing on the integration of the Member States which acceded to the European Union on or after 1 May 2004 and their infrastructure needs based on solidarity and territorial cohesion;
Amendment  15 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii) developing environment-friendly and low-carbon transport systems including promoting sustainable urban mobility;	(ii) improving energy efficiency in the transport sector, developing efficient co-modality aiming at sustainable, safe, intelligent and interoperable transport and mobility; with a focus on promoting accessible intermodal mobility chains of public transport-walking-cycling-carsharing-carpooling; the support for these actions shall be conditional upon the adoption of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP);
Amendment  16 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point d – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
iii) developing comprehensive, high quality and interoperable railway systems;	iii) promoting optimum traffic development by implementing intelligent and accessible transport systems, such as developing comprehensive, high-quality and interoperable railway systems while in particular deploying ERTMS and reducing rail freight noise at the source; supporting environment-friendly bus services and sustainable waterborne transport;
Amendment  17 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – point e a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(e a) strengthen the Commission’s coordination role (MOVE and REGI DG´s) in order to contribute to better funding efficiency and stimulate the full potential of the Cohesion fund;
Amendment  18 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Common indicators, as set out in the Annex to this Regulation, shall be used where relevant and in accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) No […]/2012 [CPR]. For common indicators, baselines shall be set at zero and cumulative targets shall be fixed for 2022,	The Commission shall further develop the list of common indicators, taking into consideration, amongst others, minimising external costs, protecting the climate, reducing accidents, air pollution and noise in accordance with Article 24(3) of the Regulation (EU) No [...]/2012 [CPR] and the provisions of the European Parliament's resolution on the ‘Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area' [2011/2096(INI)]. For common indicators, baselines shall be set at zero and cumulative targets shall be fixed for 2022.
Amendment  19 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3. For programme-specific result indicators, baselines shall use the latest available data and targets shall be fixed for 2022, but may be expressed in quantitative or qualitative terms.	3. For programme-specific result indicators, baselines shall use the latest available data and targets shall be fixed for 2022, and shall be expressed in both quantitative and qualitative terms.
Amendment  20 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 6 a
	Evaluation
	By 31 December 2017 at the latest, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament an evaluation report on the achievement of the objectives set out in this Regulation.
Amendment  21 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	1b, No later than two years after the expiry of the programme, the Commission shall carry out an ex post evaluation of its impact and European added value and shall send the evaluation report to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions.
Justification
Gives effect to Article 50 of the ‘Common Provisions’ Regulation.
Amendment  22 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 6
Text proposed by the Commission Wastewater treatment population equivalent Additional population served by improved water supply Amendment by Parliament Wastewater treatment population equivalent Additional wastewater treatment capacity
Amendment  23 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 13
Text proposed by the Commission Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of habitats in better conservation status Amendment by Parliament Nature and biodiversity hectares Surface area of restored biotopes
Amendment  24 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 22a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line Amendment by Parliament Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line   number newly built, reconstructed or upgraded cross-border sections
Amendment  25 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 22b + 22c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission Transport     Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line Amendment by Parliament Transport     Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line   tonnes/km Increase in goods transported by freight   passengers/km Increase in number of passengers transported by rail
Amendment  26 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 22d (new)
Text proposed by the Commission Transport     Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line Amendment by Parliament Transport     Railway km Total length of new railway line   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded railway line   km Total length of ERTMS-equipped railway line
Amendment  27 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 24a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission Roads km Total length of newly built roads   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded roads Amendment by Parliament Roads km Total length of newly built roads   km Total length of reconstructed or upgraded roads   number newly built, reconstructed or upgraded cross-border sections
Amendment  28 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 25a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission Urban transport passenger trips Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service Amendment by Parliament Urban transport passenger trips Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service   percentage Change in modal share of public transport and non-motorised mobility such as walking and cycling
Amendment  29 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 25b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission Urban transport passenger trips Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service Amendment by Parliament Urban transport passenger trips Increase of passenger trips using supported urban transport service   more eco-efficient vehicles Increase in the number of vehicles and development of related infrastructure for more eco-efficient urban transport
Amendment  30 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 26a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission Inland waterways tonne-km Increase of cargo transported on improved inland waterways Amendment by Parliament Inland waterways tonne-km Increase of cargo transported on improved inland waterways   passenger trips Increase in the number of people using inland waterway transport services
Amendment  31 Proposal for a regulation Annex –row 26b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission       Amendment by Parliament Climate effect mio of tonnes of CO2 equivalents change of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from co-funded measure(s)
Amendment  32 Proposal for a regulation Annex – row 26c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission       Amendment by Parliament Tourism EUR Volume of investment in smart and sustainable mobility
Amendment  33 Proposal for a regulation Annex –row 26d, 26e, 26f (new)
Text proposed by the Commission       Amendment by Parliament Tourism EUR Volume of investments made to improve the accessibility to tourism services for persons with reduced mobility (PRMs)   EUR Volume of investments into cycling networks   EUR Volume of investments into natural, cultural, industrial and historical heritage

PROCEDURE

Title	Cohesion Fund and repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
References	COM(2011)0612 – C7-0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	REGI 25.10.2011
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	TRAN 25.10.2011
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Michael Cramer 24.11.2011
Discussed in committee	28.2.2012	24.4.2012
Date adopted	19.6.2012
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	34 0 4
Members present for the final vote	Magdi Cristiano Allam, Georges Bach, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Philip Bradbourn, Michael Cramer, Joseph Cuschieri, Philippe De Backer, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Christine De Veyrac, Saïd El Khadraoui, Ismail Ertug, Knut Fleckenstein, Jacqueline Foster, Mathieu Grosch, Jim Higgins, Juozas Imbrasas, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Ádám Kósa, Werner Kuhn, Bogusław Liberadzki, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Gesine Meissner, Dominique Riquet, Petri Sarvamaa, Vilja Savisaar-Toomast, Olga Sehnalová, Brian Simpson, Keith Taylor, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Giommaria Uggias, Peter van Dalen, Dominique Vlasto, Artur Zasada, Roberts Zīle
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Spyros Danellis, Gilles Pargneaux, Alfreds Rubiks
Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote	María Irigoyen Pérez

PROCEDURE

Title	Cohesion Fund and repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006
References	COM(2011)0612 – C7-0325/2011 – 2011/0274(COD)
Date submitted to Parliament	6.10.2011
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	REGI 25.10.2011
Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)        Date announced in plenary	BUDG 25.10.2011	EMPL 25.10.2011	ENVI 25.10.2011	ITRE 25.10.2011
	TRAN 25.10.2011
Not delivering opinions        Date of decision	EMPL 27.10.2011
Rapporteur(s)        Date appointed	Victor Boştinaru 21.6.2011
Discussed in committee	22.11.2011	25.1.2012	28.2.2012	20.3.2012
	26.4.2012	30.5.2012	21.6.2012	11.7.2012
	26.11.2012	24.1.2013	19.2.2013	19.3.2013
	23.4.2013	29.5.2013	19.6.2013
Date adopted	10.7.2013
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	43 0 1
Members present for the final vote	François Alfonsi, Luís Paulo Alves, Catherine Bearder, Jean-Jacob Bicep, Victor Boştinaru, John Bufton, Nikos Chrysogelos, Francesco De Angelis, Tamás Deutsch, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Brice Hortefeux, Danuta Maria Hübner, Filiz Hakaeva Hyusmenova, Vincenzo Iovine, María Irigoyen Pérez, Seán Kelly, Mojca Kleva Kekuš, Constanze Angela Krehl, Jacek Olgierd Kurski, Petru Constantin Luhan, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Vladimír Maňka, Iosif Matula, Erminia Mazzoni, Miroslav Mikolášik, Jens Nilsson, Jan Olbrycht, Wojciech Michał Olejniczak, Younous Omarjee, Markus Pieper, Monika Smolková, Georgios Stavrakakis, Nuno Teixeira, Lambert van Nistelrooij, Oldřich Vlasák, Kerstin Westphal, Hermann Winkler, Joachim Zeller, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Jan Březina, Andrea Cozzolino, Karima Delli, Cornelia Ernst, Ivars Godmanis, Evžen Tošenovský, Giommaria Uggias
Date tabled	18.7.2013