Luxembourg, 07/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish President of the Energy Council, Mr. Folgado, said Friday evening that "we reached a sketch of an agreement" on the draft directive aimed at promoting the use of bio-fuels in transport (see EUROPE of 8 November, p.6). This "pre-agreement" stipulates that the objectives (regarding the minimum use of bio-fuels in transport) will be indicative and not compulsory, as the Commission had initially proposed. In addition, the Commission could, depending on the situation, propose new objectives, possibly compulsory, at the time of the review clause scheduled for end-2006. The Commissioner for energy, Loyola de Palacio, declared that "this proposal still needs the backing of Parliament, and especially the agreement of the EcoFin Council on the application of reduced excise duties on bio-fuels" (See EUROPE of 5 June. P.11). Finally diplomatic sources observed with stupefaction "that Belgium was at the head of the delegations most opposed to the compromise", where, on the contrary, "the United Kingdom should flexibility while waiting for the op[inion of the European Parliament".