Allister welcomes 'commonsense' move on biofuels
16 September 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has welcomed moves by the European Parliament’s Industry Committee on biofuels which he believes will inject some commonsense into the whole area of food versus fuel. The committee has voted through a report on a draft directive on renewable energies, endorsing a 10% ‘renewables’ as opposed to ‘biofuels’ target for 2020, stipulating that at least 40% of this target would have to come from more sustainable sources than traditional biofuels.
Commenting on the Report’s endorsement, Jim Allister said he hoped this would bring a welcome reprieve to the current feed and food crisis:
“The Commission’s blind pursuit hitherto into first generation biofuels, which rely on the same feedstocks as is required for food production, has been a major factor in higher production costs for Northern Ireland’s farmers. While it has proven extremely difficult for local farmers to recover these higher costs from the market, a shift in direction, will, I hope, bring some much needed reprieve to the local livestock sectors.”
“That is why I support what the Rapporteur of this latest report himself describes as a, “major breakaway from the EU’s crazy rush for agrofuels”.
ENDS
