EU Commission fails to assuage MEPs’ concerns over alleged biofuels fraud – EURACTIV.com

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The European Commission has rebuffed a request by Parliament lawmakers to turn over information related to used cooking oil (UCO) imports, maintaining that it is not in possession of the documents requested. However, it did admit that the risk of “false claims” surrounding UCO imports represents “a particular concern”.

EU Environment Commissioner Kadri Simson responded in writing to a petition from Greens MEPs that the EU executive release data on the origins and quantities of UCO imports – a biofuels feedstock that has been linked to fraud concerns.

Five Greens lawmakers – Ciarán Cuffe, Jutta Paulus, Ville Niinistö, Martin Häusling, and Rasmus Andresen – sent letters to the EU executive in April formally asking for all data obtained under voluntary UCO certification schemes to be made public.

The MEPs’ letters came in the wake of a finding of “maladministration” towards the European Commission by the EU Ombudsman. The Strasbourg-based watchdog made the ruling due to the Commission’s refusal to furnish information on UCO imports in response to a citizen request.

MEPs push European Commission to reveal used cooking oil origins

Greens EU lawmakers have sent a formal letter requesting that the European Commission provide data on the origins and quantities of used cooking oil (UCO) imported into the bloc, putting further pressure on the EU executive to allay fraud concerns surrounding UCO imports.

In a letter dated 28 June, Simson responded that the European Commission “is fully transparent on the data in its possession on used cooking oil”.

“As concerns the complaint, the Commission was not in a possession of any documents that met the description of the complainant,” the letter continues. 

Simson added that while fraud regarding the origin of used cooking oil is of concern, the Commission is “taking measures to address such risks”. 

These include the improvement of rules for sustainability certification as well as the development of a Union database to centrally trace the movement of biofuels, which the Commissioner says will “greatly improve the transparency of the biofuels market”.

The green MEPs had originally set a deadline of 29 April for the Commission to reply to their letter, though this deadline passed with no response.

The MEPs expressed dismay that a response was not received prior to the Parliament committee vote on a green jet fuel mandate, which could see imported UCO play a significant role in fuelling the aviation sector.

The committee text is set to go to a plenary vote on Thursday (7 July), where, if passed, it will form the negotiating position of the European Parliament in discussion with member states.

Fraudulent UCO ‘cannot be distinguished from virgin palm oil’

German MEP Jutta Paulus said the lack of information from the Commission means the vote will take place without lawmakers having a clear picture.

“This undermines people’s trust in how sustainable fuels are defined, especially as there are concerns about possible fraudulent practices with regard to used cooking oil as it cannot be distinguished from virgin palm oil. Setting incentives for its use without clear and transparent certification measures for its origin could wreak havoc in the exporting countries,” she told EURACTIV.

The Greens were united in pushing for the plenary vote to be postponed, arguing that the short time between the committee vote and the plenary risks a rejection similar to that seen in the recent vote on the Emission Trading System.

“This letter confirms the European Commission is fully aware and shares our concerns about fraud with used cooking oil imports. And still, MEPs are expected to vote next week to expand the use of this and other unsustainable biofuels in the [ReFuelEU Aviation] proposal, without updated data and in full knowledge that these strong claims of fraud exist,” said Irish MEP Ciarán Cuffe.

The centre-right EPP group, the Parliament’s largest political group, pushed back against attempts to postpone the plenary vote, pointing to the sizeable majority with which the ReFuelEU Aviation vote passed in the transport committee (25 votes in favour, six against).

“If the Greens are serious about fighting climate change, then they must put their hand where their mouth is. Given their repeatedly raised climate concerns, a manoeuvre postponing the vote is incomprehensible,” Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar, the EPP’s shadow rapporteur for the ReFuelEU Aviation file, told EURACTIV.

De Aguiar dismissed claims that the amendments put forward by the transport committee would lead to unsustainable fuels being used in aviation, noting that all SAFs would be subject to greenhouse gas emissions criteria.

“[SAFs] would have to be certified and represent the highest possible environment standards globally,” she said.

Despite the plea from some MEPs, EURACTIV understands that the chances of the vote being postponed are slim, as the so-called Conference of Presidents – an influential body made up of each political group – has already agreed to the 7 July date.

‘Unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo’

The European Waste-based & Advanced Biofuels Association (EWABA), said the measures laid out by the EU’s Energy Commissioner to address the issue of fraud echo the industry’s long-standing position.

“The recently revised stricter standards for certification schemes coupled with the pan-EU track and trace biofuels database address any potential fraud concerns,” Angel Alberdi, EWABA secretary-general, told EURACTIV. 

“Over the last couple of years we’ve only heard unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo without any single fraud incident being identified,” he added.

While EWABA does not agree with MEP Paulus’s reasoning around fraud concerns, the trade association supports calls to restrict the contribution of UCO and Animal Fats feedstocks within the EU’s sustainable aviation fuel blending mandate.

Diverting UCO from its more efficient use in the road and maritime sectors will result in “increased net emissions, economic damage, and less investment for really promising sustainable aviation fuel technologies such as efuels, alcohol-to-jet, et cetera” said Alberdi.

[Edited by Frédéric Simon]




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