Newsletter EUBIA
November 2017

EUBCE

News

MEPs vote on 35% of Renewable Energy by 2030

On Tuesday 28th of November, the MEPs of the Industry and Energy Committee (ITRE) voted on the Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, recast (being the Repealing Directive 2009/28/EC). The MEPs agreed for a 35% share of renewable energy consumtion in the European Union by 2030, with a binding target of 12% on the transport sector.

The MEPs also agreed on the target to reduce energy consumption by 40% by 2030 at EU level, in the Energy efficiency Amending Directive 2012/27/EU, in comparison with the 30% proposed by the European Commission. With reference to the national binding targets, the MEPs have decided to not establish national targets, each Member State needs to fix its national energy-efficiency targets in order to reach the overall target of a 40%.
These targets are necessary to achieve the objectives of a renewable energy economy and energy efficiency.

Next Steps: A vote on these two legislative resolutions will take place on the January plenary session of the Parliament in order to give MEPs the mandate to start negotiations with EU governments.

Please find here the press release for this news.

Call for actions

Horizon 2020 - Work Programme 2018-2020

Programme on Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials.
Programme on Secure, clean and efficient energy.
Programme on Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy.

Express your interest in the next call for proposals

EUBIA aims to inform and support its members in the process of conducting research and innovation on the biomass sector.

Contact us in case you need our support.

News

Young Farmers' Policies after the 2013 CAP Reform: challenges and recommendations

Findings from the study "Young farmers - policy implementation after the 2013 CAP reform", conducted on seven Member States, were made public. The policy instruments for young farmers are based on: the first pillar (direct payments for farmers) and second pillar of CAP (rural development policy - Priority 2: Enhancing farm viability and competitiveness of all type of agriculture).
The study identifies barriers for young farmers such as the access to land, price volatility, access for funds and the need for training. Moreover the existing regulation is very vague and its interpretation varies from one country to another. There are 14 recommendations included in order to improve the support for young farmers.

A public hearing also took place with speakers from the Court of Auditors, the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), the Italian Council for Research in Agriculture (CREA) and the Committee of the Regions, the focus was the discussion of the development of the agriculture sector and the success of the CAP policies.

How will Brexit affect European agriculture and EU - UK trade?

The following studies have been made regarding impact of Brexit on agriculture, budget and trade:
Possible impact of Brexit on the EU Budget and, in particular, CAP funding in which it is highlighted the adjustment that will be needed due to the loss of the British net contribution and the 'Brexit bill'.
EU - UK agricultural trade: state of play and possible impacts of Brexit analysing the impact on other countries and the production and trade of Agri-food.
Possible transitional arrangements related to agriculture in the light of the future EU - UK relationship: institutional issues.

Commission opens in-depth investigation into Spain's support for coal power plants regarding the 'polluter pays' principle

The European Commission opened an investigation regarding the support to the coal power plants receive by the Spain authorities.
The incentive introduced by the Spanish authorities aimed to support the installation of sulphur oxide filters in existing coal power plants in order to reduce the emissions that were being produced. The power plants received incentives, that the Commission was not informed about, and had to follow the Directive 2001/80/EC (limitation of emission or pollutants into the air from large combustion plants), which the Commission suspects has not being complied.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, stated: "If you pollute, you pay – this is a long-standing principle in EU environmental law. EU State aid rules do not allow Member States to relieve companies of this responsibility using taxpayer money. We currently believe that this Spanish scheme did not incentivise coal power plants to reduce harmful sulphur oxide emissions – they were already under an obligation to do so under EU environmental law. "

For more information please find here the Press release and here the file of the case.

Which future for Glyphosate in Europe?

Glyphosate is a herbicide that has been used in the EU for several decades. The issue relies on the discussion of whether or not it can have dangerous effects on animal and human health, more specifically to pose a carcinogenic hazard. The disagreement appears between the European Commission proposing to renew the approval of use of glyphosate, and the Parliament wanting to ban it. This friction is due to the divergence of results of studies carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the European Chemicals Agency regarding the harmful effects of glyphosate.
At the moment, MEPs demand a complete phase-out of the herbicide by 2020, meanwhile the Commission and the Council agreed on renewing glyphosate usage for a period of five years, while introducing some modifications to the Implementing Regulation.

Please find here the current status and development of glyphosate in the EU.

Proposed amendment of the EU Gas Directive: all pipelines entering the EU follow EU rules

The 8th of November the European Commission proposed an amendment of the EU Gas Directive.

The aim consist on specifying that the main principles of the current Gas Directive (2009/73/EC), (third-party access, tariff regulation, ownership unbundling and transparency) will apply to all gas pipelines to and from third countries up to the border of the EU's jurisdiction. Therefore, all pipelines entering the EU will have to follow EU rules. The proposal will need be discussed at the European Parliament and the Council before becoming an EU law.
Find here the Press Release from the European Commission.

Third State of the Energy Union Report and the need to boost clean energy infrastructure

The 24th of November was published the Third State of the Energy Union Report. The report shows the positive improvements towards a low-carbon economy but also states the future needs to adapt the infrastructure, specially local networks for the daily life. The main objective is to promote clean energy infrastructures in Europe. Regarding that issue the European Commission adopted on the same day a Communication on the 2030 electricity interconnection target of 15% and the third list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI)

Find here the press release of the the Energy Union - the year of engagement from the European Commission.

Endorsement of the European Bioeconomy Stakeholders Manifesto by EUBIA

EUBIA endorses the European Bioeconomy Stakeholders Manifesto that was presented to Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, in Brussels on 17 November 2017.

The European Bioeconomy Stakeholders Manifesto has been published on the European Commission’s Bioeconomy website.

SET Action - Published Implementation Plans

Four Implementation plans have been endorsed by the SET Plan Steering Group members. These Implementation Plans concern: solar power; efforts to make EU Industry less energy intensive; renewing efforts to demonstrate carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the EU and developing sustainable solutions for carbon capture and use (CCU); and an initiative for Global Leadership in Photovoltaics.

Find more information about it here.

Public consultation related to EUBIA activities
-Consultation on the evaluation and review of the EU tyres labelling scheme.
-Consultation on the Evaluation of the Environmental Technologies Verification Pilot Programme.

First Results of the study of LIFE Programme 2014-2020 A report on the First results of the LIFE Programme 2014-2020 is now available.

Events

EUBIA attends the High-level conference on clean energy financing, 7th of November, Brussels

Relevant MEPs expressed their view on the policy actions that have been taken in the field of renewables.
José Blanco, MEP of S&D (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament) and rapporteur of the Renewable Energy Directive underlined the need of having greater ambition and going beyond the 27% to establish an objective of an 35% renewable energy share by 2030.
Massimiliano Salini, MEP for the EPP (Group of the European People's Party, Christian Democrats) stated that this transition needs to go along with a political target and a favourable industry environment that is willing to invest in renewables.

EUBIA attends the Breakfast briefing with MEP Hökmark, 8^th November, Hume Brophy, Brussels

EUBIA participated in the breakfast briefing with the MEP Gunnar Hökmark, EPP (Group of the European People's Party, Christian Democrats), on the Clean Energy package.
The MEP shared his view on the need of having a market structure and developing markets, rather than establishing national targets which are considered to be limiting. Also, it is important to consider the divergences existing on the energy sector among Member States, added MEP Hökmark.

Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 Infoweek

EUBIA was present at the Horizon 2020 Info Days at the Commission during the 14-17 of November. Several presentations regarding the bioeconomy policy, digitisation and blue growth took place, as well as the brokerage event for networking purposes.

Find here the presentation of the 14 of November, Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 Infoweek.
Find here the webstreamed session of the 16th of November.
Find here the presentations of the Digitising agriculture and food value chains session and here the webstreamed session of Blue growth Research and Innovation of the 17th of November.