EU Continue Discussion on Biofuels Standards
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
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The EU committed last year to ramp up its use of biofuels in the coming
years but has since had to consider ways to ensure their use does not have
unintended consequences such as environmental damage and higher food prices.
In a first discussion at the ambassador level, EU states were only "close to
a consensus" on one point, an official with the bloc's Slovenian presidency
said.
The bloc's leaders committed to increase the EU's renewable energy use by 20
percent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, with biofuels slated to make up 10
percent of all transport fuels used by then.
The single point of emerging consensus was that biofuels should make
greenhouse gas savings of 35 percent compared to oil from the expected entry
into force of the regulations in 2009.
However, member state opinions diverged on when the percentage should be
increased, another EU diplomat said.
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