Some European States Delay in Implementing EC Biofuels Directive

20 March 2005

The European Commission has issued letters of formal notice to nine Member States that have not yet communicated their target for the share of biofuels in 2005, as required by Directive 2003/30/EC, the  European legislation on biofuels.

The directive requires that 2% of all diesel and gasoline sold be biofuels in 2005, progressively increasing to reach a minimum of 5.75% of fuels sold in 2010.

EC member states are required to:

• Report by the end of 2004 their measures for implementing the EC directive in country-specific legislation (i.e., mechanisms for implementation and enforcement)

• Submit a national status report (due 1 July 2004) including a definitive target for 2005.

So far, 19 countries have not informed the Commission on their legislative measures, and five have yet to submit their national reports. Four countries submitted reports, but without reporting a share of biofuels, or without definitive targets.

More troubling, many submitted targets for 2005 are below the specified 2%.

The transport market is today almost entirely dependent upon oil-based fuels. It is now urgent that all Member States live up to their commitments to develop an alternative fuel strategy for transport and to tackle this over-dependence which is a significant source of environmental and supply concerns for the European Union.

—Andris Piebalgs, EC Commissioner for Energy

The table below lists the 2005 targets submitted by the member countries.