The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted, on Wednesday 20 September, its draft opinion on the’Net-Zero Industry Act’ (NZIA). On the same day or the day before, the Committees for Internal Market (IMCO), Employment (EMPL), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Regional Development (REGI) all did the same. The Committee on Industry, which is responsible for the substance of the text, is due to vote on the report by Christian Ehler (EPP, German) on 25 October (see EUROPE 13245/2), with a view to a plenary vote in November.
The MEPs of the ENVI Committee amended the scope of the text to exclude nuclear power completely. “Advanced technologies to produce energy from nuclear processes with minimal waste from the fuel cycle” and “small modular reactors” have been removed from the definition of “net-zero” technologies.
This position differs, at this stage, from that of the members of the ITRE Committee, where a compromise seems to be emerging to add nuclear power to the list of strategic ‘net-zero’ technologies (see EUROPE 13245/2).
On the other hand, the list of strategic ‘net-zero’technologies should be extended to include the crucial components and machines needed to manufacture the eight strategic technologies initially listed, according to the ENVI Committee. An appendix containing a list of components and machines has therefore been added to the draft opinion.
Increase in production targets
MEPs on the ENVI Committee want to maintain the target of 40% EU production of strategic ‘net-zero’ technologies by 2030. On the other hand, they estimate that if the production of these technologies in the EU already reaches 30% of annual consumption when the text comes into force, the 40% target will have to be increased by 20 points.
ETS revenues
Like the rapporteur of the text in ITRE, Christian Ehler, the ENVI Committee wants member countries to devote 25% of their revenue from the Emissions Trading System (ETS) to financing the NZIA objectives. In detail, they are asking the Member States to inform the Commission of the proportion of ETS revenues allocated to the NZIA “with a view to achieving at least 25%”, explain the MEPs.
To see the compromise amendments adopted: https://aeur.eu/f/8o5 (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)