Belgium – Brussels
Commission to take action on alternative fuels
Alternative fuels have moved higher up the agenda of the European
Union, prompted by energy and environmental concerns. Euractiv quotes
Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen, as saying that boosting
alternative fuels will be "one of the most important issues" that he
will address together with environment and energy colleagues.
The quote was taken during a hearing in the European Parliament
earlier this month looking at the competitiveness of the EU car industry.
Citing the work of the high level CARS 21 group, set up by the
Commission in January to overhaul the EU regulatory framework in the
automotive sector, will issue recommendations before the end of the
year to improve the sector’s performance from the point of view of,
economic competitiveness, environment and road safety.
Asked by Members of the European Parliament what the Commission is
doing to lower the EU’s dependency on oil and encourage biofuels, he
said: "On alternative fuels […], my colleagues Mr Piebalgs [energy], Mr
Dimas [environment] and myself have made joint proposals to have an
integrated response."
"This is something entirely new, something we’ve never attempted to do
before so that we can find answers through a joint political approach
with competitiveness, energy and the environment working together".
"Is it possible to decouple economic growth from energy use – Yes it
is! And it is quite important that we do so as a matter of urgency,"
Verheugen went on.
A senior aid to the Energy Commissioner is quoted as indicating that a
biomass action plan announced earlier this year is to be published
before the end of 2005, with the aim of producing 18 million tons of
oil equivalent (Mtoe) in biofuels by 2010.
An update of the EU biofuels directive is also in the pipeline, Jones
indicated, although the timing of the proposal is still to be
determined.
More information – Euractiv
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