Brussels, 07/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - There is no third trialogue planned for the biofuels/ILUC dossier. Nonetheless, a last-ditch compromise attempt was put on the table at the European Parliament at the beginning of April in an effort to reach an agreement between itself, the Council and the Commission for a European biofuels policy that is more sustainable for developing countries and the climate.
As part of the inter-institutional negotiations on the draft directive to amend the “quality of biofuels” and “renewable energies” directives, establish a ceiling by 2020 on the use of agri-fuels in transport and to take into account the Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) factor in the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions linked to the production of these first-generation biofuels, Coreper managed to reach a hard fought agreement on 1 April on a final compromise offer. One European source speaking on Tuesday 7 April, explained that “this has already been sent to the European Parliament. The European Parliament's environment committee will be invited to give its opinion on 14 April and the European Commission during the April plenary session”.
In its final offer, the Council dug its heels in with regard to its wish to reach a 7% ceiling on the contribution of first-generation agri-fuels and the 10% renewables target for transport by 2020, despite the fact that MEPs had been calling for 6% (see EUROPE 11235).
Our same sources explained that “the flexibility of the Council was unable to exceed the negotiating mandate conferred upon it”. The other point contained in the compromise involves the sub target for using biofuels in transport. This is not going to be binding.
On 24 March, following the second trialogue meeting, European Parliament negotiators proposed continuing negotiations, which member state representatives meeting on 25 March at Coreper had initially agreed to do by deciding to organise a third trialogue meeting. This meeting is finally not going to take place. (Aminata Niang)