Background and objectives

In order to establish an assessment of the biofuels promotion policy within the EU, it is necessary to place the actions taken in their historical context, in relation with the objectives of the action plan.

The resolution of 8 June 1998 of the European Council of Cardiff [1] is the cornerstone element of the EU's action plan in the field of biofuels. It endorses the strategy and plan of the Commission in favour of renewables and calls for the promotion of biofuels.

In November 2000, the Green Paper on energy efficiency [2] aims at replacing 20% of all conventional fuels for road transport with alternative fuels by 2020. In the Commission's view, only three options (among those with a potential in the next fifteen years) seem to be able to exceed 5% (vol.) of fuel consumption, namely (1) biofuels, (2) natural gas, and (3) hydrogen. The optimistic scenario, corresponding to an active policy in their favour, is presented in the table below, from the paper, "Promotion of biofuels and other alternative fuels for road transportation: Action Plan" from the Directorate General for Energy and Transport, European Commission (2001) [3].

Table: Optimistic scenario of alternative fuels introduction until 2020 accordin to the EU

At the European Council of Gothenburg (June 2001), a European strategy for sustainable development is defined [4]. It includes the development of biofuels. In September 2001, a White Paper on transport policy favours the use of alternative fuels such as biofuels in order to reduce CO2 emissions and energy dependence with respect to oil [5].