Inițiativă legislativă în SUA cu impact pentru România: doi congressmani vor ca America să aloce un miliard de dolari pentru proiectele energetice din 11 state est-europene care micșorează dependența de Rusia

Congresmenii americani Adam Kinzinger (Partidul Republican) și Bill Keating (Partidul Democrat) au inițiat un proiect legislativ prin care guvernul SUA ar avea instrumentele prin care să sprijine proiectele energetice din 11 state central și est-europene (printre care și România) cu potențial de diversificare a accesului la energie. Proiectul are ca scop scăderea dependenței de gazele naturale din Rusia, folosite de Kremlin în scop politic, după cum arată Adam Kinzinger într-o declarație de presă.

• Citește aici proiectul de lege

Proiectul legislativ prevede și asigurarea unei finanțări de un miliard de dolari pentru aceste gazoducte și interconectori.

Inițiativa legislativă listează tipurile de proiecte ce ar putea fi sprijinite de Departamentul de Stat al SUA și alte instituții guvernamentale și arată tipurile de sprijin: pe de o parte politic și diplomatic, pe de altă parte financiar – atât în fazele inițiale, cât și spre finalizarea proiectelor.

Proiectul detaliază modul în care guvernul SUA poate prioritiza susținerea față de acest tip de proiecte și arată că administrația americană trebuie să colaboreze cu Comisia Europeană.

Alți doi congressmeni au semnat proiectul legislativ, potrivit unui comunicat (Brian Fitzpatrick și Vicente Gonzalez).

Cele mai importante detalii ale proiectului (lb. engleză):

”European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019”.

To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to diversify their energy sources and supply routes, increase Europe’s energy security, and help the United States reach its global energy security goals, and for other purposes.

It is the sense of Congress that the United States has economic and national security interests in assisting Central and Eastern European countries achieve energy security through diversification of their energy sources and supply routes.

It is the policy of the United States
(1) to advance United States foreign policy and development goals by assisting Central and Eastern European countries to reduce their dependence on energy resources from countries that use energy dependence for undue political influence, such as the Russian Federation, which has used natural gas to coerce, intimidate, and influence other countries;
(2) to promote the energy security of allies and partners of the United States by encouraging the development of accessible, transparent, and competitive energy markets that provide diversified sources, types, and routes of energy;
(3) to encourage United States public and private sector investment in European energy infrastructure projects to bridge the gap between energy security requirements and commercial demand in a way that is consistent with the region’s absorptive capacity;
(4) to help facilitate the export of United States energy resources, technology, and expertise to global markets in a way that benefits the energy security of allies and partners of the United States, including in Central and Eastern Europe.

In pursuing the policy described in section 3, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of United States agencies that operate under the policy guidance of the Secretary, shall, as appropriate, prioritize and expedite the efforts of the Department of State and those agencies in supporting the efforts of the European Commission and the governments of Central and Eastern European countries to increase their energy security, including through—
(1) providing diplomatic and political support to the European Commission and those governments, as necessary—
(A) to facilitate international negotiations concerning cross-border infrastructure;
(B) to enhance Europe’s regulatory environment with respect to energy;
(C) to develop accessible, transparent, and competitive energy markets supplied by diverse sources, types, and routes of energy;
(2) providing support to improve European energy markets, including early-stage project support and late-stage project support for the construction or improvement of energy infrastructure, as necessary—
(A) to diversify the energy sources and supply routes of Central and Eastern European 11 countries;
(B) to enhance energy market integration across the region; and
(C) to increase competition within energy markets.

PROJECT SELECTION

(1) IN GENERAL.—The agencies described in subsection (a) shall identify energy infrastructure projects that would be appropriate for United States assistance under this section.
(2) PROJECT ELIGIBILITY.—A project is eligible for United States assistance under this section if the project is
(A) related to—
(i) natural gas infrastructure, such as interconnectors, storage facilities, liquefied natural gas import facilities, or reverse flow capacity;
(ii) electricity transmission infrastructure, electricity storage projects, or smart grid projects;
(iii) renewable energy projects in wind, solar, tidal, or other forms; or
(iv) the improvement, rehabilitation, or construction of natural gas, coal, or other electricity generation facilities to increase the efficiency and reliability of electricity production;
(B) located in a Central or Eastern European country.

PREFERENCE. In selecting among projects that are eligible under paragraph (2), the agencies described in subsection (a) shall give preference to projects that
(A) link the energy systems of two or more Central and Eastern European countries;
(B) have already been identified by the European Commission as being integral for the energy security of Central and Eastern European countries;
(C) are expected to enhance energy market integration;
(D) can attract funding from the private sector, an international financial institution, the government of the country in which the project will be carried out, or the European Commission; or
(E) have the potential to use United States goods and services during project implementation.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL SUPPORT. The Secretary of State shall provide diplomatic and political support to the European Commission and the governments of Central and Eastern European countries, as necessary, including by using the diplomatic and political influence and expertise of the Department of State to build the capacity of those countries to resolve any impediments to the development of projects selected under subsection
EARLY-STAGE PROJECT SUPPORT.—The Director of the Trade and Development Agency shall provide early-stage project support with respect to projects selected under subsection (b), as necessary.
LATE-STAGE PROJECT SUPPORT.—Agencies described in subsection (a) that provide late-stage project support shall do so with respect to projects selected under subsection (b), as necessary.

FUNDING.
(1) PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT.—The agencies described in subsection (a)—
(A) are authorized to provide financing of not more than $1,000,000,000 to support private sector investment in projects that diversify the energy sources and energy transport capabilities of Central and Eastern European countries and to improve energy market integration in those countries; and
(B) shall ensure that amounts from such investments are available for fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for debt financing and insurance for projects under this section.

COUNTERING RUSSIAN INFLUENCE FUND.— Section 254(b) of the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017 (22 U.S.C. 9543(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(7) To assist United States agencies in providing assistance under section 4 of the European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019.’’

Foto: Adam Kinzinger (Contul personal de Facebook)