Brussels, 16/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - The inability of the Energy Council to agree on the draft reform in favour of sustainable bio-fuels, to support both the developing countries and the climate, came under fire from Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, and from Valentinas Mazuronis, outgoing President of the Environment Council, at the last meeting of the environment ministers of the 28 under the Lithuanian Presidency on Friday 13 December (see EUROPE 10983). None of the delegations took the floor to comment on this failure, but the forthcoming Greek Presidency accepted the invitation extended to it by the Commission to break the deadlock on the dossier.
“Unfortunately, there is no political agreement. The bodies of the Council are called upon to continue their examination”, said Mazuronis. Hedegaard was somewhat more outspoken. “The European Commission regrets the fact that it has not been possible to agree on a dossier which it feels is very important. It is not a trivial matter. The more we delay the agreement, the harder it will be for the sector to come through”, she said, lamenting the uncertainty this has created for investments. “I invite the Greek Presidency to tackle the dossier head-on”. Speaking on behalf of the future Greek Presidency, the Greek Minister said that this would be done. None of the delegations took the floor (our translation throughout). (AN/transl.fl)