European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told a news conference the EU executive proposed four criteria to ensure biofuels were environmentally sustainable.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Biofuels used in the European Union will have to provide a real saving in greenhouse gas emissions of at least one-third compared to fossil fuels and meet other criteria, the EU's energy chief said on Wednesday.
European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told a news conference the EU executive proposed four criteria to ensure biofuels were environmentally sustainable.
Biofuels would have to give a real saving in carbon dioxide emissions of 35 percent compared to oil, must not be produced on "land of high biodiversity," may not be produced from land with high carbon stocks, and must use best agricultural practices, Piebalgs said, adding member states would monitor compliance.
(reporting by Paul Taylor, editing by Gerard Wynn)
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