Legislative process should now continue and deliver ambitious RED III framework

Yesterday, the European Parliament (EP) Industry (ITRE) Committee voted on its report on the revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), authored by MEP Marcus Pieper. ITRE MEPs confirmed the role of biodiesel from all sustainable feedstocks to reach the EU climate objectives, and also rightly increased the ambitions of the RED for the transport sector. The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), gathering European producers of biodiesel (FAME & HVO) from all types of sustainable feedstocks, welcomes the ambitious RED III ITRE vote that took place on 13 July. We are pleased to see MEPs embracing higher ambition in transport decarbonisation, with a 16% GHG intensity reduction target for transport (up from the proposed 13%), coupled with a 45% overall renewables target (up from 40%). The urgency and difficulty to decarbonise the European transport sector is well established, and the RED III should address this. “The European biodiesel industry sees the bold ITRE vote in a difficult context as a step in the right direction. We need now to confirm this positive outcome, as well as correct remaining issues within the ENVI competence on sustainability, during the plenary vote in September. It is critical to ensure the best political message from the Parliament ahead of important trilogue negotiations with Member States and the European Commission”, stated Mr. Xavier Noyon, EBB Secretary-General. While some elements of the vote’s outcome still require fine-tuning, ITRE MEPs also confirmed the critical role for sustainable biodiesel in the decarbonisation of the European transport sector, confirming the maximum of 7% for the contribution of crop-based biofuels to EU targets currently stated the RED II, and moving away from other proposed amendments that would, unjustifiably, reduce this share. “We are pleased to see that in a political debate very polarised, we were able to convince MEPS that sustainable biodiesel from crops, as well as wastes & residues, contributes to food safety, energy security, circularity, and social inclusiveness” Mr. Noyon concluded. Download Press Release