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Minister Lintilä and Commissioner Arias Cañete discuss bioenergy in Brussels
Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä met EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete at the Energy Council in Brussels. Minister Lintilä presented Finland’s views to Arias Cañete concerning bioenergy issues and the Commission’s regulation proposal concerning land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).
The meeting between Minister Lintilä and Commissioner Arias Cañete also covered the other legislative proposals in the Clean Energy package, which were discussed at the EU’s Energy Council in Brussels on 27 February 2017. During the day, Minister Lintilä drew attention to the most important issues for Finland nationally regarding biomass sustainability criteria and biofuels.
“The greatest matters of national interest for Finland are in the Renewable Energy Directive. That proposes an expansion of the sustainability criteria to include solid and gaseous biomass used for electricity and heat production,” explains Minister Lintilä.
The Commission also proposes binding targets for the share of renewable energy use in transport and for advanced biofuels.
“In Finland’s view, the Commission’s proposal is a good basis for further negotiations. But the definition of what constitutes an advanced biofuel should be clarified, in particular,” says Minister Lintilä.
Finland considers that ample time must be reserved for discussion of the eight legislative proposals in the Clean Energy package. The Council was almost unanimous in its view of the timetable for discussion. In terms of its content, the package contains many unresolved questions. Discussion of the proposals will continue in the Council’s Energy Working Group and then at the June 2017 Energy Council.
In Brussels, Minister Lintilä also met Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen. Minister Lintilä and Vice-President Katainen agreed that Finland has the potential to be an EU leader in the bioeconomy and circular economy.
Inquiries:
Riku Huttunen, Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 431 6518
Tuuli-Maaria Aalto, Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 431 7529
Maria Kekki, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 454 6820