Brussels, 09/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 June 2010, EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger will unveil a new package of EU rules on the development and use of biofuels in the EU in order to help the EU meet its target to cut EU carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, thereby meeting the aims of EU Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion and use of renewable energy sources, that foresees increasing renewables' share of the EU's primary energy provision to 20% by 2010, and increasing the share of renewables in the total fuel consumption in transport to 10% in every member state.
The package to be presented on Thursday comprises two communications and a draft decision to help companies and member states implement the renewables directive. They define sustainability criteria for biofuels and control systems to ensure that only sustainable biofuels are used in the EU.
The European Commission will therefore unveil a biofuel certification system for ethanol and biodiesel produced in or imported into the EU which will have to meet sustainability criteria as laid down in the renewables directive if they are to be included in the calculations of the EU's carbon reduction targets for 2020 (10% of transport fuel consumption) and be allowed public subsidies, like lower or no fuel duty. The Commission recommends that industry and governments introduce voluntary systems to this end. Under EU Directive 2009/28/EC, that comes into force in December 2010, eligible biofuel must cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35% and by at least 50% in 2017 and 60% in 2018. Eligible biofuel must not originate in forests, humid areas/jungles or protected areas. These criteria aim to prevent forests being cut down and replaced with oil palm trees. (E.H./transl.fl)