The EU Biofuels Supply Chain rejects ILUC political compromise
Date
10 Dec 2013
Sections
Agriculture & Food
Climate & Environment
Energy
Files
944/COM/13
Brussels, December 9th 2013
The EU Biofuels Supply Chain rejects ILUC political compromise
The biofuels supply chain, composed of farmers, crushers, traders and biofuels producers, presented its views on the Lithuanian proposal to be discussed by Energy and Environment Ministers on December 12th and 13th. The Chain called on the Council to reject the Lithuanian compromise proposal.
All the associations expressed their concerns on the damaging impacts of the proposal on European agricultural and industrial employment, regretting that neither past investment would be secured, nor would any future investment be foreseeable. While the document sets a limit on the production of conventional biofuels and limits them with ILUC values in reporting greenhouse gas performance of our products, it misses the opportunity to foster deployment of advanced biofuels and even threatens the 2020 renewable energy target.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen warned “This proposal, which limits the use of biofuels made from arable crops to 7%, is totally unacceptable and reduces credibility in the EU institutions. The move also threatens the EU’s energy and climate change targets, over 200, 000 jobs mostly in rural areas, and feed supplies for animals. This is because the by-products from conventional biofuel production, such as rapeseed and oilseed meals, beet pulp and dried distillers grains play a crucial role on the feed protein market and in the EU food chain, where the EU is facing an ever-increasing shortage”.
Raffaello Garofalo, EBB Secretary General stated “The Lithuanian proposal does not acknowledge any efforts made by our industry in terms investment and sustainability performances. ILUC values – even for reporting – would prevent any use of biodiesel in transport, diminishing the reputation of our industry. The political proposal further threatens the overall development of renewable energy in Europe and will limit future investments in biofuels, without providing any help to decarbonise EU transport sector”.
Rob Vierhout, Secretary-General of ePURE, said "There seems to be an iron law to adopt European legislation even though no one likes the proposal as the one presented by the Lithuanian Presidency; most of the Member States, the Commission, the Parliament, industry and NGOs all have expressed serious concerns about it. Rejection would be the logical way forward"
As a result, the chain called on the Commission and Member States to reject this proposal.
Note to editors
Recent studies showed that slight changes in assumptions used for modelling Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) would result in significantly reducing biofuels ILUC values.
COCERAL is the European association representing trade in cereals, rice, feedstuffs oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply. It represents the interest of the European collectors, traders, importers, exporters and port silo storekeepers of the above mentioned agricultural products. COCERAL’s full members are 31 national associations in 19 countries. With about 2700 companies as part of COCERAL national members, the sector trades agricultural raw materials destined to the supply of the food and feed chains, as well as for technical and energy uses.
Copa-Cogeca is the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, they ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, guaranteeing food security to half a billion people throughout Europe. Copa represents over 13 million farmers and their families whilst Cogeca represents the interests of 38,000 agricultural cooperatives. They have 77 member organisations from the EU Member States.
EBB – European Biodiesel Board is a non-profit organisation established in January 1997. Today, EBB gathers nearly 80 members across 21 Member-States, which represents 75% of the European output. Biodiesel is the main solution to reduce emissions from transport and dependence on imported oil. EBB aims to promote the use of biodiesel in the EU and is committed to fulfil the international standards for sustainability in GHG emissions and sustainable feedstock. EBB is constantly working towards the development of improved and greener technologies.
EOA – European Oilseed Alliance (EOA) brings together organisations representing partners from the EU oilseed and protein-crops sector: producers, collectors, processors, and other partners closely linked to them. EOA membership represents 90 % of EU oilseed production and is made of oilseed sectors organisations from Germany, France, the UK, Belgium, Poland, and the Czech Republic
ePURE is a not for profit organisation that represents the interests of the European Renewable Ethanol Producers. ePURE represents close to 95% of the European installed production capacity and has 45 members of which 21 are ethanol producers. ePURE producing members use a wide range of raw materials from agricultural crops to waste and residues sourced in Europe for ethanol made in Europe.
FEDIOL represents the interests of the European vegetable oils and proteinmeal industry. With about 150 facilities in Europe, the sector provides over 20.000 direct employments. Its members process 30 million tonnes of basic products a year and the EU industry serves the second largest world market of vegetable oils after China. Oilseed crushing yields vegetable oils and proteinmeals as co-products. While vegetable oils are used for food and technical uses (pharmaceuticals, paints, detergents, biodiesel, etc.), proteinmeals are used to meet the increasing global demand for meat and protein.