BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?

88 5 Socio-economic and political analyses
Conclusions on political factors
• In order to successfully introduce or increase the cultivation of energy crops, not only laws and directives
are needed but also the support from local authorities, environmental groups and farmers.
• Land availability in the EU may in theory rise by up to 100 million ha. However, to dedicate a
maximum of 10 % of this area to bioenergy is more realistic. An increased emphasis on extensification,
nature development, new outlets and reduction of food imports leads to alternative uses of
available land.
• Environmental groups are in favour of renewable energy, but are worried about the effects of energy
crops on the landscape (monocultures) and emissions of pesticides and fertilisers. They tend to be
more in favour of perennial crops instead of the more intensive annual crops.
• Despite the goal of opening up the energy market, there is no level playing field as yet. Major distortions
are the differences in environmental regulations and in subsidies, giving fossil fuels advantages
over renewables. The tax reliefs for biofuels which are in force in some Member States, the legal
possibility for farmers to grow energy crops on set-aside land and national regulations and targets
for the production of green energy help to overcome these competitive disadvantages.