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Klub ELS-ED v EP: Evropští poslanci podpořili biopaliva a nepotravinářské plodiny - farmáři by měli vydělat na nových příležitostech
21. února 2006 | Klub ELS-ED v EP, tel: +32 (0) 2 284 2574, +32 (0) 473 861762
The EU should adjust the Common Agricultural Policy to augment the use of crops for purposes other than food as a way of solving a number of pan-European dilemmas including energy, a committee of MEPs said today when it unanimously adopted an EPP-ED MEP's report.
The report, authored by Neil Parish, British Conservative agricultural spokesman in the European Parliament, aims to develop the sector so that farmers will be encouraged to diversify into crop production for biofuels, industrial oils, detergents, paints, pharmaceuticals and biocides. With British farmers coming under intense pressure from low prices on world agricultural markets, Mr Parish argues more could be done to encourage the use of crops for biofuels.
The European Commission has set out its own action plan for increasing the use of biofuels but the British government's approach appears to be in disarray. The Commission issued a warning to the United Kingdom last year because it was failing to reach its agreed biofuels targets. Only 0.3 percent of the UK petrol and diesel market was taken by biofuels in 2005 when the EU's target was two percent.
Mr Parish has called on the British Chancellor, Gordon Brown, to offer biofuel producers more than a three-year reduction in duties so that producers can recoup their setup costs. Currently, the three-year period is not long enough to encourage more investors to venture into the biofuels sector.
Mr Parish said:
"While biofuels are not the only answer to Europe 's energy concerns, they should be an integral part of easing them.
"Biofuels are good for the environment, the agriculture industry and our worsening energy dilemma.
"In the UK , we need better incentives to promote the production of biofuels such as a longer-term reduction in duty from the British Treasury. We also need cooperation from oil companies to mix biofuels with conventional fuels.
"The European Commission has formally rebuked the UK for failing to meet its biofuels targets. Britain's next target is to replace five percent of our forecourt fuels with biofuels by 2010. Unless the government stops paying lip service to its biofuels commitments and puts in place a strategy, Britain will fail to reach that target too.
"British farmers are looking for innovative markets in which they can expand and biofuels could provide new business opportunities. My report sets out some of the incentives that Europe can introduce to encourage farmers to diversify but farmers will not want to move into producing crops for fuel unless the government starts to take this important sector seriously."
Notes to editors:
- Report of Neil Parish MEP
- Commission proposals to promote the increase in use of biofuels
-Information on the Commission's 'reasoned opinion' that the UK is failing to meet biofuels targets
The report, authored by Neil Parish, British Conservative agricultural spokesman in the European Parliament, aims to develop the sector so that farmers will be encouraged to diversify into crop production for biofuels, industrial oils, detergents, paints, pharmaceuticals and biocides. With British farmers coming under intense pressure from low prices on world agricultural markets, Mr Parish argues more could be done to encourage the use of crops for biofuels.
The European Commission has set out its own action plan for increasing the use of biofuels but the British government's approach appears to be in disarray. The Commission issued a warning to the United Kingdom last year because it was failing to reach its agreed biofuels targets. Only 0.3 percent of the UK petrol and diesel market was taken by biofuels in 2005 when the EU's target was two percent.
Mr Parish has called on the British Chancellor, Gordon Brown, to offer biofuel producers more than a three-year reduction in duties so that producers can recoup their setup costs. Currently, the three-year period is not long enough to encourage more investors to venture into the biofuels sector.
Mr Parish said:
"While biofuels are not the only answer to Europe 's energy concerns, they should be an integral part of easing them.
"Biofuels are good for the environment, the agriculture industry and our worsening energy dilemma.
"In the UK , we need better incentives to promote the production of biofuels such as a longer-term reduction in duty from the British Treasury. We also need cooperation from oil companies to mix biofuels with conventional fuels.
"The European Commission has formally rebuked the UK for failing to meet its biofuels targets. Britain's next target is to replace five percent of our forecourt fuels with biofuels by 2010. Unless the government stops paying lip service to its biofuels commitments and puts in place a strategy, Britain will fail to reach that target too.
"British farmers are looking for innovative markets in which they can expand and biofuels could provide new business opportunities. My report sets out some of the incentives that Europe can introduce to encourage farmers to diversify but farmers will not want to move into producing crops for fuel unless the government starts to take this important sector seriously."
Notes to editors:
- Report of Neil Parish MEP
- Commission proposals to promote the increase in use of biofuels
-Information on the Commission's 'reasoned opinion' that the UK is failing to meet biofuels targets
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