Brussels, 28/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The agricultural professional organisations and cooperatives of the EU (COPA and COGECA) call on the Spanish Presidency to speed up the work of the Council of Ministers on the proposals submitted last November by the European Commission in order to promote the use of biofuels in the transport sector and allow application of a reduced rate of excise duty on these products.
The proposal sets the compulsory target of a 2% share of the market for biofuel in 2005, gradually increasing to 5.75% in 2010. This is welcomed by COPA and COGECA "because it contributed tot he actual achievement of the climate and energy policy targets of the European Union", but regret that "the unanimity procedure of the ECOFIN Council of Ministers has blocked any decision on fiscal derogation for about ten years". The organisations call for the Spanish Presidency to "ensure that the Council makes this proposal a priority, with a view to reaching political agreement during its Presidency if possible".