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. �