Activites

• 2003/05/17 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 2003/30
  • OJ L 123 17.05.2003, p. 0042-0046
• 2003/05/08 Final act signed
• 2003/05/08 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2500
• 2003/04/08 Council Meeting
• 2003/03/12 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T5-0085/2003 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Maria del Pilar AYUSO GONZALEZ (EPP-ED, Spain) and made some amendments to the common position: 1) Pure vegetable oil is included as a biofuel and a definition is inserted; 2) Member states must report to the Commission on: - the measures taken to promote the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels to replace diesel or petrol for transport purposes; - the national resources allocated to the production of biomass for energy uses other than transport.�

• 2003/03/10 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2003/02/20 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A5-0057/2003
• 2002/12/05 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2463
• 2002/11/18 Council Meeting
  • 12695/1/2002 summary

    The common position accepted in total or partially 26 out of the 60 amendments adopted by the European Parliament in its first reading. The main changes introduced by the Council are as follows : - the Council extended the scope of the directive to cover not only biofuels but also other renewable fuels for transport purposes in each Member State and broadened its objective by stating that the purpose of this Directive is to promote the use of these fuels instead of simply setting a percentage of biofuels to replace conventional fuels; - the Council considered that indicative targets would be more appropriate than mandatory ones, enabling Member States to introduce the necessary measures in a gradual and flexible manner, on the understanding that the system will be reviewed after a first stage of implementation. Therefore, the common position provides that the objective should be reached on the basis of reference values for stage one (2% by 31 December 2005) and stage two (5.75% by 31 December 2010). Member States set national indicative targets for the minimum proportion of biofuels and other renewable fuels placed on their markets, for stage one as well as for stage two. This two-stage approach is supplemented by a review clause, based on reports from the Commission and the Member States. In their reports, Member States may differentiate the national indicative targets as compared to the reference values of, but these differentiations have to be motivated on the basis of specific elements. Based on Member States' reports, the Commission draws up an evaluation report, and submits, where appropriate, proposals for an adaptation of the targets. The Council furthermore clarified/modified the following issues: - blending: the Council did not retain the proposed proportion of blending to be achieved in the second stage, considering that blending is not yet a standardised procedure and it should therefore be open to Member States whether they wish to blend biofuel into fossil fuel or not; - list of products: the Council moved the list of products considered "biofuels" from the Annex to Article 2(2) and added the following products: "bioMTBE", "synthetic biofuels" and "biohydrogen". While so doing, the Council also clarified that this list is an open list, which may be adapted to technical progress in accordance with the Comitology procedure; - environmental balance of biofuels: the Council strengthened the link between promoting biofuels and other renewable fuels and contributing to objectives such as climate change commitments, environmentally-friendly security of supply and the promotion of renewable energy sources. Furthermore the measures taken by Member States to ensure that a minimum proportion of biofuels and other renewable fuels is placed on their markets have also to consider the overall climate and environmental balance of the various types of biofuels and, in doing so, may give priority to those biofuels showing a very cost-effective environmental balance, while also taking into account competitiveness and security of supply; - reporting obligations: while the Council agrees that the condition in Member States should motivate the differentiation of their material targets as compared to the reference values on the basis of two set so elements: a) objective factors such asproduction potential and allocation of biomass to other energy uses and specific characteristics of the national transport fuel market; b) national policies consistent with the objectives of the energy sector, related to the transport sector in the EU and aiming at objectives similar to those pursued by this Directive. It should be noted that several delegations (Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Finland and the United Kingdom) have made statements for the Council's minutes. These statements relate their obligations to report to the Commission (Article 4 paragraphs 1 and 2). �

• 2002/09/12 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(2002)0508 summary

    The Commission has drafted the amended proposal incorporating a series of amendments introduced by Parliament. The main ones accepted include the following: - a new recital emphasises the use of secondary biomass and the parallel production of vegetable proteins. - there is a reporting system on the environmental impact and on the costs by Member States to the Commission and is in line with the agreement at the Energy Council. - priority on the promotion of biofuels in public transport - priority to the promotion of biofuels with a good environmental balance - the promotion of the possibilities of biofules to the public and information for consumers. - an amendment specifying aspects about the Commission's evaluation report to be published every two years and stimulate environmentally friendly concerns. - the introduction of compliance with standard pr EN 14214 of biodiesel end products for fuels. - a transitional period of maximum 2 years for Member States with special difficulties.�

  • DG ['Energy and Transport'],
• 2002/07/04 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0361/2002 summary

    The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Maria del Pilar AYUSO GONZALEZ (EPP-ED, Spain) on the Commission's proposal. (Please refer to the document dated 19/06/02.) The Member States have to submit a report on the environmental impact of the planned measures and a breakdown of the cost. Several factors must be taken into account, including land use, the degree of intensity of cultivation, the use of pesticides, the protection of watercourses and energy efficiency. Parliament specified that any further increases in biofuels must be subject to a detailed assessment of a full analysis of their life cycle and their benefits in terms of CO2 and sustainable farming practices. The Commission must carry out this assessment by 30/06/06. In respect of crops intended for the production of biofuels, Member States need to adopt appropriate environmental measures, in view of the particular situation of the farmland used or the production concerned.�

• 2002/07/01 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2002/06/19 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0244/2002
• #2433
• 2002/06/06 Council Meeting
  • 2433 summary

    The Council examined the proposal for a Directive on the promotion of the use of biofuels for transport. Following the discussion, the President, pending the European Parliament's Opinion, noted broad agreement on a Presidency compromise text concerning the proposal. He asked the Permanent Representatives Committee to examine the European Parliament's opinion as soon as itwas available so that the Council could adopt a common position at a forthcoming meeting. The main aspects of the compromise are as follows: - reference values are set for the proportion of the market taken up by biofuels in relation to all fuels sold for transport purposes: for the first stage, this proportion amounts to 2% to be reached by 31 December 2005, while for the second stage it amounts to 5,75% to be reached by 31 December 2010; - Member States set national indicative targets for the minimum proportion of biofuels placed on the market; - these targets may be differentiated in relation to the reference values; - this two-stage approach is supplemented by a review clause, which is based on Commission reports and information from Member States and may lead to an adjustment in the system of targets in 2007 or later. The dossier is linked to the proposal to enable Member States to apply a reduced rate of excise duties on biofuels, which was submitted by the Commission at the same time and will be on the agenda for the Economic and Financial Affairs Council which precedes the European Council in Seville on 21 and 22 June.�

• 2002/01/16 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2001/11/07 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2001)0547 summary

    PURPOSE : to foster the use of biofuels for transport within the EU. CONTENT : The Gothenburg European Council of June 2001 adopted a strategy for sustainable development, which includes the development of biofuels. The transport sector accounts for more than 30% of final energy consumption in the Community and is expanding - a trend which is bound to increase, along with carbon dioxide emissions. Increased use of biofuels will enable greater compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, and strengthen security of energy supply in the medium and long term. In addition, promoting the use of biofuels in keeping with good farming practices will create new opportunities for sustainable rural development in a more market-orientated Common Agricultural Policy. This proposal lays down an obligation on Member States to introduce legislation to ensure that a minimum share of biofuels sold on their markets is 2%, calculated on the basis of energy content, of all gasoline and diesel sold for transport purposes on their markets by 31 December 2005, and that this share increases, aiming toward a minimum level of blending in accordance with a schedule in the annex to the draft legislation. The annex contains a list of liquids that are considered to be biofuels as well as the schedule for the share of biofuels in the total fuel market. Member States will monitor the effect of the use of biofuels in diesel blends above 5% by non-adapted vehicles and will take, where appropriate, measures to ensure compliance with the relevant Community legislation on emission standards. The measures taken to reach the annual targets will be set out in annual reports to the Commission by the Member States. On the basis of these reports, the Commission will then assess the action taken by Member States to meet their quotas for biofuels and, if appropriate, make proposals for amending the annex to the Directive. The committee procedure will be used for adapting the annex to technical progress. �

  • DG ['Energy and Transport'],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2001)0547
• Debate in Council: 2433
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0244/2002
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0361/2002
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(2002)0508
• Council position published: 12695/1/2002
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A5-0057/2003
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T5-0085/2003
• : Directive 2003/30
• : OJ L 123 17.05.2003, p. 0042-0046

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)