P8_TA(2017)0388

Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking: financial contributions *

European Parliament legislative resolution of 24 October 2017 on the proposal for a Council regulation amending the Council Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (COM(2017)0068 — C8-0118/2017 — 2017/0024(NLE))

(Consultation)

(2018/C 346/43)

The European Parliament,

—	having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2017)0068),

—	having regard to Article 187 and the first paragraph of 188 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C8-0118/2017),

—	having regard to Rule 78c of its Rules of Procedure,

—	having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the Committee on Regional Development (A8-0293/2017),

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, in accordance with Article 293(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the Commission proposal;

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1)	Council Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 (37) established the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (‘BBI Joint Undertaking’).

(1)

Council Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 (37) established the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (‘BBI Joint Undertaking’) with the aim of contributing to the implementation of the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) (‘Horizon 2020’) through increased investment in the development of a sustainable bio-based industry sector in the Union .

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2)

Article 12(4) of the Statutes of the BBI Joint Undertaking, set out in the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 (‘the Statutes’), states that the financial contribution by the members of the BBI Joint Undertaking other than the Union to operational costs is to be at least EUR 182 500 000 over the period set out in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 560/2014, that is to say from the establishment of the BBI Joint Undertaking until 31 December 2024.

(2)

Article 12(4) of the Statutes of the BBI Joint Undertaking, set out in the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 (‘the Statutes’), states that the financial contribution by the members of the BBI Joint Undertaking other than the Union to operational costs is to be at least EUR 182 500 000 over the ten-year period set out in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 560/2014, that is to say from the establishment of the BBI Joint Undertaking until 31 December 2024.

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2a)

This Regulation responds to a proposal made by the Bio-based Industries Consortium Aisbl (BIC) and mirrors best practice in other joint undertakings. Effective programme delivery by the BBI Joint Undertaking and better regulation overall should continue to be achieved through improved cooperation, collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the bio-based chain.

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3)

The Bio-based Industries Consortium Aisbl (‘BIC’), which is a member of the BBI Joint Undertaking other than the Union, continues to be ready to support the operational costs of the BBI Joint Undertaking for the amount set out in Article 12(4) of the Statutes. It has however proposed an alternative mode of financing through financial contributions made by its constituent entities at the indirect actions' level.

(3)

The Bio-based Industries Consortium Aisbl (‘BIC’), which is a member of the BBI Joint Undertaking other than the Union, remains obliged, and continues to be ready, to support the operational costs of the BBI Joint Undertaking for the amount set out in Article 12(4) of the Statutes. It has however proposed an alternative mode of financing through financial contributions made by its constituent entities at the indirect actions' level.

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3a)

The alternative mode of financing proposed by the BIC has informed this Regulation, while recognising the unique features of the BBI Joint Undertaking. The Commission will examine how that alternative mode of financing could apply to other joint undertakings, and, in particular, to the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking.

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4)

The objective of the BBI Initiative to carry out activities through collaboration of stakeholders along the entire bio-based value chains, including SMEs, research and technology centres and universities can be achieved only by enabling BIC and its constituent entities to deliver the financial contribution not only as payments to the BBI Joint Undertaking but also as financial contributions to indirect actions funded by the BBI Joint Undertaking .

(4)

The objective of the BBI Initiative to carry out , in line with the priorities of Horizon 2020, activities through collaboration of stakeholders along the entire bio-based value chains, including SMEs, research and technology centres and universities , and to make the Union a champion of research, demonstration, and deployment in the bio-based products and biofuels marketplace, can be achieved only by enabling BIC and its constituent entities to deliver the financial contribution not only as payments to the BBI Joint Undertaking. That new delivery mode is to ensure that the financial contributions become more commercially viable for BIC and its constituent entities, which in turn should facilitate the fulfilment of their financial obligations within the set deadline .

Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4a)

In its joint undertaking process, the Commission set out the impact and effectiveness of, and lessons learnt from, the proposed amendments. The Commission should submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council assessing the effectiveness of this Regulation, in light of the BIC’s obligation to deliver its financial contribution by 31 December 2024.

Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(5 a)

In future cases the Commission should always carry out a public consultation in order to ensure that any proposed changes are accepted by all interested parties, and are developed in the most transparent and open manner possible. Similarly, the Commission should conduct impact assessments of the measures proposed unless the Better Regulation Guidelines clearly state otherwise.

(37) Council Regulation (EU) No 560/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (OJ L 169, 7.6.2014, p. 130).