Brussels, 10/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - European energy ministers are expected to give their support to a 7% cap on first-generation biofuels.
Biofuels and Indirect Land Use Changes (ILUC), the internal market and the external dimension are included on the agenda of the only formal Energy Council under the Lithuanian Presidency on Thursday 12 December in Brussels.
Biofuels. European energy ministers are expected to conclude a political agreement on the draft directive on Indirect Land Use Changes (ILUC Directive) amending Directive 1998/70/EC on fuel quality and Directive 2009/28/EC on renewable energies, as a means of reducing to a minimum the impact of ILUC on greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting investments already made in first-generation biofuels.
In line with the compromise presented by the Lithuanian Presidency and endorsed on 29 November by the member states' ambassadors (Coreper), energy ministers are expected to back a 7% cap on first generation biofuels in the European renewables targets in transport and not the 5% as proposed by the Commission or the 6% proposed by Parliament. Member states that want a higher ceiling to protect the investment already made by the industry are also expected to refuse, as sought by Parliament, to take into account ILUC factors in the biofuel sustainability criteria in 2020. Finally, the Council does not want to set out any compulsory target for including advanced biofuels as proposed by Parliament (2.5%) and would prefer this provision to remain voluntary. Currently, first-generation biofuels account for almost 5% of the energy used in transport in the EU.
Internal market. Following on from the May 2013 European Council, the Council will approve a progress report on completing the internal energy market, the political objective for which is 2014. In the report conclusions, the Council lists three priority action areas to achieve this end: harmonisation through implementation of the third liberalisation package, fast track development of energy infrastructure and application of EU rules on market integration and energy efficiency, in addition to application of fair conditions for companies operating in the EU.
External dimension. The Council will approve a report examining external energy policy developments.
During their working lunch, ministers will discuss energy prices and competitiveness ahead of the debate on this question at the European Council in spring 2014. (EH/transl.fl)