Brussels - At the first EU Council of Agriculture Ministers chaired by Josef Pröll, Austria's Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment, held today in Brussels, the central theme was a presentation of the Biomass Action Plan by the EU Commission at Austria’s initiative. This subject could not be more topical, the Austrian President of the Council explained. At the beginning of the year, the natural gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine clearly demonstrated the European Union’s dependency on imports, and the price of crude oil climbed once again last Friday to almost USD 66 per barrel. “Against this background, Europe urgently needs to evaluate its energy policy”, said Minister Pröll.
A telephone survey of 1,000 interviews per country conducted at the beginning of the year, and therefore directly before the natural gas crisis, in eight EU Member States (Slovenia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Austria) by Fessel GfK Austria, confirms that the population backs Austria’s concerns on the question of energy policy. Thus an overwhelming majority of all respondents are concerned that fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas will be subject to further price increases. However, only a few fear that this will also be the case with renewable energy sources such as biomass or wind energy.
Greater support for promoting renewable energy sources – nuclear energy less popular
When asked which form of energy should receive greater support within the EU in the future, it became apparent that there was a clear preference across all Member States for renewable energy sources such as hydro and wind energy as well as biomass. For example, from among the respondents in Austria, 85% wanted to see hydropower promoted more strongly, 79% were in favour of biomass, and 80% for wind energy, placing the country at the forefront. The figures for oil, gas and coal are low by comparison. “I wish to point out – this time as an Austrian Minister – that there is no particular enthusiasm for promoting nuclear energy in any of the countries surveyed”, Minister Pröll emphasised at the Council of Agriculture Ministers. The lowest support for nuclear energy is in Spain, where only 4% wish to see this source of energy promoted, and Austria is close behind with only 8%. The highest figures were found in the United Kingdom (29%) and Germany (27%), which are still low compared with the average percentages for renewable energy sources.
Biomass Action Plan a step in the right direction
“It is therefore clear that the population has a distinct preference for a broad energy mix, with renewable and sustainable energy sources gaining in importance. The political conclusion that I reach from this data is that the Biomass Action Plan is a step in the right direction. We should pursue its objective of doubling biomass use by 2010 with all our resources”, stated Minister Pröll. In Europe, biomass is currently used for 4% of energy generated. The Action Plan provides for an increase from 69 million tonnes oil equivalent to 185 million tonnes by 2010.
Leading Europe towards greater independence in its energy supply
Pröll further emphasised that the Austrian EU Presidency will push the question of “Europe’s Energy Future” in all relevant Council formations – agriculture, environment and energy – and will also raise it at the European Council in June. “The objective should be to lead Europe towards greater independence in its energy supply and to accomplish step-by-step a shift towards sustainable and environmentally compatible energy generation”, he said.
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