Brussels, 9 July 2026 – The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), representing European biodiesel (FAME & HVO) and bioSAF (HEFA) producers, welcomes the European Commission’s publication of the "Action Plan for Resilience, Strategic Autonomy, and Sustainability of the EU Protein System" (the Protein Action Plan). The EBB recognises this initiative as an important step in bringing to life the ambition of a more autonomous Europe and build a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable agri-food system. Crucially, the Protein Action Plan explicitly recognises the inseparable link between domestic protein production and the European biofuels sector. The Commission acknowledges how bioenergy policies directly influence the availability of protein-rich co-products essential for animal feed, as well as the overall economic viability of cultivating protein crops within the EU. It also acknowledges that demand for protein in the EU is increasingly driven by emerging needs related to circularity and bioenergy. Furthermore, it underlines that bioenergy policies have a direct impact on the availability of protein co-products for animal feed, as well as on the profitability of EU-grown protein-rich crops. Additionally, the Commission announces that, as part of the post-2030 review of the Renewable Energy Directive, it will assess how domestic biofuel production, protein crops and feedstocks can be further increased to strengthen the Union’s strategic autonomy and resilience, with these objectives to be reflected in the future policy framework. The EBB once more calls on the Commission to reevaluate the current limits placed on first-generation biofuels and guarantee that future legislation creates new opportunities for 1G biofuels in achieving transport decarbonisation targets. Additionally, we ask the Commission to recognise the decarbonisation potential of 1G biofuels in EU legislation, such as FuelEU Maritime and ReFuelEU Aviation Regulations, the LDV Co2 Standards, the ETD, and the Taxonomy Technical Screening Criteria to identify “Taxonomy-compliant” economic activities Xavier Noyon, Secretary General of the EBB said: "The Protein Action Plan confirms what the EBB has long advocated: European biofuels and feed production are two sides of the same coin. By supporting domestic biofuel production, we are not just decarbonising transport but also strengthening the backbone of the European agriculture sector. The EBB remains committed to working alongside the European Commission and industry stakeholders to ensure that the goals of the Protein Action Plan are met, integrating energy resilience with agricultural stability for a stronger Europe.