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Polish Presidency in the EU
The analysis of economic events taking place
shows that the realized climate and energy policy
and the Common Agricultural Policy encourage
the import to the Community of processed and
unprocessed agricultural biomass, which then
is used for energy purposes. Therefore the assertion
that the existing Community activities can
contribute, or at least do not prevent the adverse
climate effects, such us deforestation in tropical
and subtropical areas seems eligible.
We did receive with a great concern the expert’s
analysis, indicating a further increase in
the import of biomass for energy purposes in
the perspective of 2020. Occurring situation of
an economic nature, referred to in paragraph 5,
provides a sufficient basis for reflection, an extended
analysis and development of effective
actions. Criteria for sustainable biomass production
must be rigorously respected, not only
within the use of biomass for energy purposes
produced within the Community territory, but
also an important part of inspection procedures
for its import into the Community. The implementation
of the climate and energy policy and
the CAP should not even
indirectly encourage expansion
of the agricultural area
at the expense of forests in
the third countries.
The objectives, within
the scope of climate protection,
and consequently the development of
renewable energy sources (RES), defined for the
Community, shall:
Result from the availability of biomass in the
Community and include the economically justifiable
distance at which the biomass shall be
transported – for example, the heat transfer
from the central source is justified by the maximum
distance of 20-30 km;
Take into account the socially acceptable level
of support for RES:
– One-off at the stage of investment (taxpayers),
– Long-term at the operation stage (consumers
– higher cost of energy);
Take into account the socially accepted proximity
of sources of the renewable energy generation.
Realization of climate objectives, improvement
of energy security and an important factor
to encourage rural development can be achieved
through the development of distributed renewable
energy, using locally available raw materials
(biomass) and other renewable energy sources
(wind, water, etc.) properly set:
Investment support for in renewable distributed
RES under the cohesion policy and in the
second pillar of the CAP;
Support to the stage of investment and operation
shall be limited to the objects that solve environmental
social and economic problems, – we cannot
support objects that generate such problems;
The simplification of the administrative procedures
for the Community is desired.
The Common Agricultural Policy should actively
promote and favor the development of
renewable energy, agricultural biomass, in particular
in the mini and micro scale, and, where
possible, regional agricultural biogas plants that
produce energy using by-products and residues
from agriculture and promote agro-industry reducing
greenhouse gases emissions, as well as
reduce the costs of agricultural production. The
quick and active involvement of the Common
Agricultural Policy to the objectives set out in the
climate and energy policy and the interrelation of
these policies seems reasonable. It shall be an important
action to consider the possible modification
of Annex 1 to the Treaty of Rome, which must
take into account, inter alia,
the possibility of energy use
of biomass, especially agricultural
biogas production.
The CAP in conjunction
with climate, energy and
financial assistance policies
should positively affect the development of the
agricultural sector, increase the energy security
and environmental protection;
The CAP has implemented at the appropriate
level the standards, favorable to climate and
environmental protection, therefore there is no
legitimate need to develop it at the farmer level,
beyond that what is implemented in the member
states, control measures for the sustainable
production of biomass for energy purposes.
There are no economic and climatic conditions
to develop renewable sources of energy
(due to their specificity) as a copy of the corporate
electricity system. Scattered RES should
complement and/or replace the electric power
system especially in rural areas.
We all need to be aware that substitution
of the import of fossil energy carriers with the
import of biomass does not improve the energy
security of the Community and individual Member
States, and brings at least doubtful effects to
climate protection and reduction of greenhouse
gases emissions.
Autumn 2011 13