Brussels, 21/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 22 February, the first Energy Council under the Irish Presidency will focus on the draft directive on indirect land-use change (ILUC).
Biofuels. European energy ministers will for the first time discuss the draft of the complex text proposed by the European Commission in October 2012, which aims to strengthen the demands on carbon emissions linked to the production of biofuels in order to cap first generation agricultural crop-based biofuels: the draft ILUC directive, which will amend Directive 2009/28/EC (renewables) and Directive 1998/70/EC (petrol quality) - (see EUROPE 10712). Each of the two texts regulates, respectively, the promotion and use of biofuels in the EU by setting a share of 10% of renewables in energy consumption for the transport sector by 2020, and the quality of biofuels by setting an objective of 6% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 for fuels used in transport.
The ministers will be asked to answer two questions raised by the Presidency - the first focuses on whether the proposed directive adequately fulfils the emissions reduction objectives linked to ILUC and the objective of encouraging the transition to second generation biofuels; the second relates to its support for the achievement of the existing energy and climate change objectives in the EU. The same questions will be put to the Environment Council on 21 March. A vote in the European Parliament's energy committee is planned in July 2013.
Internal market. The Council will discuss the communication presented by the Commission in November 2012 on making the internal energy market work (see EUROPE 10731), which was examined for the first time at its December 2012 session. The ministers will also focus on two key questions on Friday - the completion of the internal energy market and the involvement of consumers, ahead of the European Council on energy on 22 May; and the adoption of conclusions for the Energy Council in June.
Offshore activities. The president in office, Irish Minister Pat Rabbite, will inform the Council of the results of the negotiations with the Parliament on the draft regulation on the securitisation of offshore oil and gas activities, which ended on Thursday 21 February. (EH/transl.fl)