Socialists trade away Juncker Plan energy efficiency fund

(EurActiv, 21 Apr 2015) There will be no €5 billion energy efficiency fund in the Junker Investment Plan, after the Socialists & Democrats struck a deal with the European People’s Party, the largest group in the European Parliament.

MEPs in the Industry, Trade and Energy (ITRE) Committee had, by a single vote, passed an amendment earmarking just under a quarter of the €21 billion risk guarantees forseen in the plan, which aims to unlock €315 billion of investment.

>> Read: MEPs back ringfencing Juncker Plan money by a single vote

But that was excised from the bill last night (20 April) before a second vote in a joint meeting of the Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Budget (BUDG) committees. MEPs and Council negotiators will meet to discuss the legislation on Wednesday (22 April).

Supporters of the ringfence argued that ITRE had exclusive responsibility over the article where the amendment was made. Although ECON and BUDG were the lead committees on the bill, they had signed over the competence under the terms of an agreement between the four committees overseeing the bill, they said.

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EurActiv, 21 Apr 2015: Socialists trade away Juncker Plan energy efficiency fund