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Abstract
The European Union has launched an ambitious policy aiming at increasing the use of
biofuels in land transport “with a view to contributing to objectives such as meeting climate
change commitments, environmentally friendly security of supply and promoting renewable
energy sources”. Another motivation, at least for some member states, is that the development of
biofuels is expected to provide larger outlets for domestic farm products and new employment
opportunities in rural areas and make future adjustments of the Common agricultural policy
easier. The EU policy of support to energy crops, tax exemption for biofuels and mandatory
incorporation targets in some member states, has resulted in a significant increase in the demand
and supply of biofuels. The market share of biofuels remains modest (1 % in 2005 in the EU-25)
but has increased dramatically over the last few months. The paper provides an analysis of recent
developments and prospects for the production and utilization of biofuels in the EU. Its presents
the potential benefits of biofuels in the EU as well as their possible drawbacks. In particular, it
addresses the three related issues of energy efficiency, environmental benefits and cost
competitiveness of EU biofuels.