Brussels, 11/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is in favour of a 6% upper limit on the use of first generation agri-fuels in transport by 2020, to speed up the production of advanced biofuels not in competition with food production in the developing countries and to take the ILUC (indirect land-use change) factor into account by 2020 in the sustainability criteria for agri-fuels with nothing “bio” about them, in order to account for greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the increasing use of agricultural land to fill car fuel tanks.
It was by a narrow majority (356 votes to 327, with14 abstentions) that the MEPs in Strasbourg on Wednesday 11 September adopted new rules to steer the EU biofuels policy, via a modification of the directives 2009/28/EC on renewable energy and 98/70/EC on fuel quality.
However, the Parliament narrowly refused (346 votes in favour, 347 against and 10 abstentions) to give the rapporteur Corinne Lepage (ADLE, France) a mandate to start negotiations with the Council for a first-reading agreement. This was much to the satisfaction of the EPP but greatly to the regret of Corinne Lepage, who nonetheless said that she was pleased with the result of the vote. “The path I proposed by way of compromise won by a small majority. I am pleased because it was by no means in the bag. A 6% is not terribly satisfactory, because agri-fuels cost us a great deal: €6 to 7 billion a year, they have an effect on climate change - particularly bio-diesel - and we cannot go on forever pursuing a policy with questionable effects on the developing countries and food prices. But it is an acceptable threshold”, Lepage told the European press (our translation).
The text voted on provides for the share of first generation bio-fuels, produced from food and energy crops, not to exceed 6% of the final energy consumed in transport by 2020 (the committee on the environment called for 5.5%, the committee on industry and energy wanted 6.5%). Advanced biofuels, produced using other sources such as algae or certain types of waste, will represent no less than 2.5% of consumption by 2020 (with quadruple accounting for algae and power to gaz). For the rest, there will be no double accounting, with the exception of palm oil, the MEPs state. The ILUC factor will be taken into account in 2020 in the directive on fuel quality, on the basis of a revision of the methodology to be carried out by the Commission in 2016 (the committee on the environment wanted this to be included in both directives).
Referring to the postponement of the negotiations and the possibility of a second reading which may not be concluded under this legislative period, Lepage said: “It is counter-productive for the industry, because uncertainty is a factor of non-investment, for first-generation agri-fuels, but also for second-generation ones, because the upper limit is not set in stone. This is regrettable at a time when Europe needs innovation. This postponement will benefit those who receive subsidies. It is curious that the Parliament, which fancies itself liberal, has rejected the amendment of the Greens aiming to get rid of first-generation agri-fuels in 2018. The big winner is the palm oil industry, which has carried out a major lobbying offensive”.
It is now up to the Council of the EU to adopt a common position. If this differs from the Parliament's vote, there will be a second reading.
Environmental and development NGOs disappointed. These take the view that it will allow the production of first generation agri-fuels to continue to increase, sending food prices and greenhouse gas emissions spiralling. Bringing in an upper limit of 6% on first generation fuels represents an increase, as the current level is 4.5%, Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) points out. The NGO calls on the member states to bring in a moratorium on fuels produced from agricultural crops. This sentiment was echoed by the European Environment Bureau, which is disappointed that the Parliament has increased the upper limit proposed by the European Commission from 5% to 6%, “which will force EU citizens and governments to keep paying large subsidies for an industry that has been proven to do more harm than good”. Oxfam ascribed the result to the tireless lobbying of the industry. “Whilst MEPs have avoided the worst case scenario on the table, the European Parliament is still guilty of neglecting the needs of both the people and the planet. This anaemic compromise means entirely preventable hunger and environmental devastation will continue. A cap on biofuels of 6% is far above current levels of consumption. Today's vote also introduces a new 7.5% binding target for the share of bioethanol in petrol; this would mean that by 2020, Europeans will have to buy 2.5 times more grain-based biofuels than they currently do”, said Marc Olivier Herman, an expert in EU biofuel policy at Oxfam International. (AN/transl.fl)