Minister Tiilikainen: European Parliament endorses the climate targets for renewable energy
On 17 January 2018, the European Parliament voted on proposals concerning renewable energy, energy efficiency and the Energy Union Governance.
The Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) is important for Finland as it creates a framework for promoting renewable energy until 2030. The sections on biofuels and the sustainability of bioenergy are particularly significant for Finland.
Parliament’s positions promise both ease and challenge for further negotiations
The European Parliament maintains that the share of renewable energy in transport should be at least 12% and the share of advanced biofuels (Annex IX Part A) at least 3.6% by 2030.
“The general approach the Council adopted in December was not ambitious enough when it comes to the use of renewable energy and biofuels in transport. I think it’s good for the further negotiations that the European Parliament voted for more ambitious targets,” says Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen.
“For investment security, the voting results left some room for improvement, for example regarding the option for the Commission to remove feedstocks from Annex IX based on the assessment it will carry out in 2025. Next, we need to make sure that we create an environment that truly promotes investments to achieve the EU’s climate and renewable energy targets.
“It is important that the sustainability criteria on bioenergy are such that the sustainability of forest biomass can be assessed at country level using the existing instruments. It is good news that the European Parliament voted for this risk-based sustainability criterion for forest biomass and refrained from proposing any changes that would have increased the administrative burden.”
Next, the Renewable Energy Directive and the other proposals debated in the European Parliament plenary session will be discussed in the tripartite negotiations (trilogues) between the European Parliament, Council of Ministers and European Commission.
On 11 January 2018, Minister Tiilikainen and the Swedish Minister for Policy Coordination and Energy Ibrahim Baylan sent a letter to the Members of the European Parliament, reminding them about the important role of sustainable bioenergy in reaching the EU’s climate and energy targets for 2030.
Inquiries:
Vilhartti Hanhilahti, Special Adviser to the Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing, tel. +358 40 836 4823
Riku Huttunen, Director-General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 431 6518
Päivi Janka, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 506 4833