eunbil · GT0N1421 · 2006-06-21 00:00:00 — THE EUROPEAN UNION , 9 2006 From : Presidency To : Delegations Subject : Follow-up on Biomass and Biofuel Council from 23/24 2006 noted that Europe is facing a number of challenges in the energy field which have to be correctly addressed in order to avoid negative and direct impacts on the environment of the EU, its jobs and its growth potential. The growing threats of climate change, the slow progress in energy efficiency and the necessity of enhanced use of renewables are amongst the most pressing challenges. Council underlines that consistency is key as energy policy has to satisfy the demands of many policy areas and in particular that it is strongly linked with environment policy but also closely connected with employment, regional policy and particularly transport policy. Furthermore, it should be noted that work on an external policy to serve Europe"s energy interests is ongoing and that amongst the guiding objectives there is explicit reference to energy efficiency, the use of renewables including biofuels, the rational use of energy worldwide as well as the implementation of the relevant Kyoto protocol mechanisms. In response to the various challenges Council therefore called for an Energy Policy for Europe (EPE) on the basis of the Commissions "A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy" to reinvigorate the current EU energy policy and to achieve consistency among the actions to be taken by all sectors involved. Together with increasing the security of supply and ensuring the competitiveness of European economies, this renewed policy shall also contribute to promote environmental sustainability. A Strategic Energy review addressing aims and actions needed for a mid to long term external energy policy will be presented by the Commission by the end of this year based on preparatory discussions in the latter part of 2006. Alongside this, two important and complementary initiatives have recently been adopted by Commission , namely the EU Strategy on Biofuels and the Biomass Action Plan, both opening a number of synergies and opportunities as also recognized by Parliament. Council Conclusions on the Biomass Action plan were adopted by the Council (TTE) on 8 . According to the biofuel communication, transport is responsible for an estimated of all greenhouse emissions, and this share is still rising. In order to meet sustainability goals, in particular the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions agreed under the Kyoto Protocol, it will therefore be key to find ways of reducing emissions from transport. Biofuels are called to play a larger role in this context. On the other hand the Biomass Action Plan sets out measures to increase the development of biomass energy from wood, wastes and agricultural crops by creating market-based incentives to its use and removing barriers to the development of such - often regional - markets. It must be borne in mind that Council also called for an enhanced coordination between the relevant Council formations and invited the Commission and the Council to prepare a set of actions with a clear timetable enabling the adoption of a prioritised Action Plan by Council at its 2007 spring session. In preparing an exchange of views delegations are invited to comment on the following aspects How can the Council (Environment) contribute most effectively to the development of Energy Policy and help ensure that the EU takes a holistic and coordinated approach to achieving the three key objectives of competitiveness, security (of supply) and environmental sustainability; how can the two new policy strategies on biofuel and biomass be used and developed to help deliver such an integrated and balanced approach? In particular, how can energy policy, including increased use of biomass and biofuels, contribute to wider environmental objectives (e.g. climate change and protection of biodiversity). What specific environmental actions or measures should be included in the Action Plan to achieve this? 9984/06 MS/sla DG B II EN