European environmental economic accounts: new modules

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 as regards introducing new environmental economic accounts modules.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows:

The report stated that it is critical to get relevant and granular data from Member States about their climate, energy and environment investment gaps to make sure that the Union is on the right track to deliver on the European Green Deal objectives with sufficient public and private capital allocated to the Green transition.

Given the urgent need to expand the system of European environmental economic accounts (EEEA) for policy-making and monitoring, the Commission should be empowered to adopt, by means of delegated acts, the new modules listed in this Regulation and to improve and further develop the existing modules set out in annexes to Regulation (EU) No 691/2011.

Modules

By 3 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission should adopt delegated acts to supplement this Regulation with the following further modules:

- energy subsidies including fossil fuel subsidies;

- subsidies or support measures potentially harmful for the environment;

- water accounts (quantitative and qualitative);

- waste account;

- circular material use rate;

- climate mitigation;

- climate adaptation;

- protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems;

- pollution prevention and control;

- resource management expenditure accounts, including critical raw material;

- environmental footprint.

By 18 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission (Eurostat) should submit a report on the monetary valuation of ecosystem services. By one year from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission should publish a study analysing the reporting data currently included in this regulation for Climate change mitigation, as well as propose the creation of a dedicated climate adaptation module to ensure that all reporting values to deliver the objectives of the European Green Deal and European Climate Law, the Fit for 55 package and the Net Zero Industry Act are provided by Member States. The study should be accompanied by an indicative timeline for the future development of the modules.

The Commission is also empowered to adopt delegated acts to amend the annexes in order to adapt and further develop the modules.

Pilot studies

The Commission should draw up a programme for pilot studies to be carried out by Member States on a voluntary basis in order to develop reporting and improve data quality, establish long time series and develop methodology. The programme should include pilot studies to test the new environmental economic account modules. In drawing up the programme, particular attention should be given to modules producing data on energy subsidies, including fossil fuel subsidies, and ensure that no additional administrative or financial burdens are placed on the Member States.