Brussels, 10/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 December, the Energy Council adopted, without debate, its first reading position seeking to take account of indirect land-use change (ILUC) in the fuel sustainability criteria in the fuel quality and renewable energy directives.
Following the political agreement reached by energy ministers on 13 June under Greek presidency (see EUROPE 11100), the formal adoption of the Council position paves the way for the second reading of this highly controversial text with the European Parliament.
On Tuesday, Belgium voted against the text and Portugal abstained. These two countries had already refused to agree to the compromise tabled by the Greek Presidency in June.
The energy ministers agreed to limit to 7% the share of conventional - so-called first generation (from agricultural crops) - biofuels in the target of having renewable energy provide 10% of the consumption of the transport sector by 2020. This position includes a binding 0.5% minimum sub-objective for advanced biofuel production.
The Commission's initial draft text proposed limiting the share of first generation biofuels in transport to 5%. The European Parliament voted for a 6% limit and an advanced biofuels objective of 2.5%. (EH)