Brussels, 09/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Two days ahead of a decisive vote at the European Parliament on the legislation to provide an EU framework for the production of biofuels in order to make them more sustainable, Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany), chairman of the committee on the environment of the European Parliament, has expressed consternation at the differences of opinion between the political parties and warns that the aim of the environment committee, to set an upper limit of 5.5% on the proportion of first-generation agro-fuels used as a renewable energy source in transport, “is threatened by the German MEPs of the CDU and the FDP”.
He points out that the Cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel has changed its official stance due to the presidential elections of 22 September, but was previously in favour of the European Commission's proposal of an upper limit of 5%.
The Parliament will decide at its plenary session of Wednesday 11 September on the modification of the fuel quality directive and the renewable energy directive aiming to limit first-generation biofuels and to take account of the ILUC (indirect land-use change) factor in the production of biofuels (see EUROPE 10915 and 10886). (AN/transl.fl)