Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08THEHAGUE999
2008-12-02 14:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS: CLOSELY MONITORING EU BIOFUELS
how-toVZCZCXRO3946 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTC #0999 3371429 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 021429Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2292 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 4055 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RUEAEPA/HQ EPA WASHDC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000999
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG ENRG EUN NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: CLOSELY MONITORING EU BIOFUELS
SUSTAINABILITY LEGISLATION
REF: A. STATE 123492
B. THE HAGUE 820
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000999
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG ENRG EUN NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: CLOSELY MONITORING EU BIOFUELS
SUSTAINABILITY LEGISLATION
REF: A. STATE 123492
B. THE HAGUE 820
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Netherlands is very eager to see the EU
complete its Energy and Climate legislation in the next few
weeks. The Dutch Government agrees on the need for
transparent, scientific standards in evaluating biofuels'
sustainability. However, even within a collaborative U.S.-EU
framework, the Dutch will likely continue to advocate for
aggressive sustainability criteria. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Following up on ref A points, EconOff discussed EU
biofuels sustainability legislation December 1 with Steven
Wonink of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning, and the
Environment (VROM). (Note: Wonink coordinates the Dutch
government's position on biofuels policy. End note.) He
said the Netherlands is very eager to see the EU complete its
Energy and Climate legislation in the next few weeks. If it
does not, Wonink fears the package will be set back one year.
3. (SBU) Wonink said the Dutch Government, in principle,
favors cooperation with the United States in setting common
standards for biofuels sustainability but he was skeptical
about existing efforts to do this. He referred to the two
current technical-level U.S.-EU task forces: one on
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) calculations and the other on
sustainability issues. He said Dutch representatives on the
sustainability task force reported "limited progress" in
their last meeting.
4. (SBU) Regarding the latest EU default emissions tables,
Wonink said the Netherlands accepted the new GHG emission
saving percentages but was waiting to see greater detail
behind the calculations. He said that although the EU
released the methodology used to derive the new percentages,
other aspects (such as input values which help determine GHG
savings) had not been released.
5. (SBU) Regarding the lack of a default value for U.S. corn
ethanol, Wonink said this was not intended to limit U.S.
producers' access to European markets. For those biofuels
streams not included in the EU default emissions tables,
producers could calculate their own GHG emission saving
percentage based on the same methodology used in Annex VII of
the draft biofuels directive. These producer-calculated
values would then satisfy the requirements of European
importers/end-users.
CULBERTSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG ENRG EUN NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: CLOSELY MONITORING EU BIOFUELS
SUSTAINABILITY LEGISLATION
REF: A. STATE 123492
B. THE HAGUE 820
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Netherlands is very eager to see the EU
complete its Energy and Climate legislation in the next few
weeks. The Dutch Government agrees on the need for
transparent, scientific standards in evaluating biofuels'
sustainability. However, even within a collaborative U.S.-EU
framework, the Dutch will likely continue to advocate for
aggressive sustainability criteria. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Following up on ref A points, EconOff discussed EU
biofuels sustainability legislation December 1 with Steven
Wonink of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning, and the
Environment (VROM). (Note: Wonink coordinates the Dutch
government's position on biofuels policy. End note.) He
said the Netherlands is very eager to see the EU complete its
Energy and Climate legislation in the next few weeks. If it
does not, Wonink fears the package will be set back one year.
3. (SBU) Wonink said the Dutch Government, in principle,
favors cooperation with the United States in setting common
standards for biofuels sustainability but he was skeptical
about existing efforts to do this. He referred to the two
current technical-level U.S.-EU task forces: one on
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) calculations and the other on
sustainability issues. He said Dutch representatives on the
sustainability task force reported "limited progress" in
their last meeting.
4. (SBU) Regarding the latest EU default emissions tables,
Wonink said the Netherlands accepted the new GHG emission
saving percentages but was waiting to see greater detail
behind the calculations. He said that although the EU
released the methodology used to derive the new percentages,
other aspects (such as input values which help determine GHG
savings) had not been released.
5. (SBU) Regarding the lack of a default value for U.S. corn
ethanol, Wonink said this was not intended to limit U.S.
producers' access to European markets. For those biofuels
streams not included in the EU default emissions tables,
producers could calculate their own GHG emission saving
percentage based on the same methodology used in Annex VII of
the draft biofuels directive. These producer-calculated
values would then satisfy the requirements of European
importers/end-users.
CULBERTSON