Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BUDAPEST1145
2008-12-01 07:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
EU BIOFUEL SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA DEMARCHE
how-toVZCZCXRO2728 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDF RUEHHM RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHTM DE RUEHUP #1145 3360759 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 010759Z DEC 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3645 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 001145
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA MATTHEW BEH, OES/EGC DREW NELSON/BEN
ZALTCHIK, AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR KGHG SENV ENRG TRGY EUN HU
SUBJECT: EU BIOFUEL SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA DEMARCHE
DELIVERED
REF: A. STATE 123492
B. BUDAPEST 963
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 001145
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA MATTHEW BEH, OES/EGC DREW NELSON/BEN
ZALTCHIK, AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR KGHG SENV ENRG TRGY EUN HU
SUBJECT: EU BIOFUEL SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA DEMARCHE
DELIVERED
REF: A. STATE 123492
B. BUDAPEST 963
1. (SBU) EconOff delivered the talking points received in
Ref A to Zsuzsanna Bibok, head of the Air, Noise and
Transport Unit at the Ministry of Environment and Water, and
to her assistant, Mate Kovacs. Bibok seemed generally
receptive to U.S. views concerning biofuel sustainability
criteria, but Hungary does not appear to be planning to take
a leading role on this issue at the upcoming European Council
meeting. According to Bibok, Hungary is in accord with the
current Council recommendation for a 35 percent reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions by 2017 and is willing to discuss a
recent proposal by Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK to
raise this target to 45 percent and account for changes in
land use. Although she expects Hungary to become virtually
self-sufficient in biofuel production based on the capacity
of its domestic agricultural sector, Bibok agreed that the
EU's biofuels framework should ensure market access for U.S.
corn-based ethanol, provided it meets EU standards. Bibok
and Kovacs reiterated many of the points contained in Ref B
regarding the need for second generation biofuels and
improved technology if Hungary is to succeed in achieving the
proposed targets.
Foley
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA MATTHEW BEH, OES/EGC DREW NELSON/BEN
ZALTCHIK, AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR KGHG SENV ENRG TRGY EUN HU
SUBJECT: EU BIOFUEL SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA DEMARCHE
DELIVERED
REF: A. STATE 123492
B. BUDAPEST 963
1. (SBU) EconOff delivered the talking points received in
Ref A to Zsuzsanna Bibok, head of the Air, Noise and
Transport Unit at the Ministry of Environment and Water, and
to her assistant, Mate Kovacs. Bibok seemed generally
receptive to U.S. views concerning biofuel sustainability
criteria, but Hungary does not appear to be planning to take
a leading role on this issue at the upcoming European Council
meeting. According to Bibok, Hungary is in accord with the
current Council recommendation for a 35 percent reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions by 2017 and is willing to discuss a
recent proposal by Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK to
raise this target to 45 percent and account for changes in
land use. Although she expects Hungary to become virtually
self-sufficient in biofuel production based on the capacity
of its domestic agricultural sector, Bibok agreed that the
EU's biofuels framework should ensure market access for U.S.
corn-based ethanol, provided it meets EU standards. Bibok
and Kovacs reiterated many of the points contained in Ref B
regarding the need for second generation biofuels and
improved technology if Hungary is to succeed in achieving the
proposed targets.
Foley