Progress report on the Renewable Energy Directive

In accordance with the reporting requirements of the RED, the Commission must publish every 2 years a progress report that assesses progress made by member states towards meeting the 2020 targets. 

In the report the Commission has determined that Member States' implementation of the biofuels sustainability rules has been too slow. The Commission's scrutiny of the transposition of the biofuel sustainability criteria also found that there are some gaps, and legal proceedings have begun to ensure that effective sustainability regimes are in place in all Member States. 

Regarding ILUC, the progress report found that the global net land use for biofuels consumed in the EU is less than 3 million hectares. 

Importantly, the report noted that the EU's biofuels policy has had no significant impact on food prices. Commission analysis has found that grain use for bioethanol production constituted 3 % of total cereal use in 2010/2011 and is estimated to have minor (1%-2%) price effect on the global cereals market.

This revelation supports the industry's message that the 5 % (ILUC) cap on crop-based biofuels is not justified.