On Tuesday 16 December, Europe’s environment ministers welcomed the EU bioeconomy strategy presented by the European Commission on 27 November (see EUROPE 13761/1).
However, they expressed different opinions depending on national priorities, particularly on the development of biomass, the organic matter of plant or animal origin used to produce heat, electricity, fuels and chemicals.
Spain emphasised circularity (aiming at reducing waste, extending the life of resources and recycling materials as much as possible rather than throwing them away after use), forestry (regulatory conflicts) and textiles (eco-design).
For Monique Barbut, the French Minister for Ecological Transition, the use of agricultural biomass to produce biofuels or biogas “must not contravene food sovereignty objectives”. She has called for a debate on extending the Merit Order principle to the European level.
Belgium has defended a sustainable supply of biomass and called for biobased products to be encouraged, while integrating sustainable consumption. Finland has also called for the responsible use of biomass.
Luxembourg believes that the biomass approach should include sustainability criteria and a certification system, which are not yet included in the current strategy (Croatia has also made this request).
German Minister Jochen Flasbarth stressed the need to ensure healthier ecosystems, simplify the administrative burden and speed up the licensing of certain products. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)