Скопје, 30 October 2020

Harmonizing the national legislation in the area of biofuels

The EU set a 10 per cent target for renewable energy use in transport for 2020, and raised the target to 14 per cent in 2030, with advanced biofuels counting double to the target. Biofuels accounted for 7.1 per cent of energy use in transport in 2018 and are forecast to increase to 7.3 per cent in 2019. North Macedonia as a candidate country needs to adjust its policies and harmonize its legislation to support the achievement of these goals.

Through the “Nordic Support for Progress of North Macedonia Project”, on 30th of October, 2020 a short online workshop on the “State of affairs and challenges with the biofuels in North Macedonia in light of preparation of the Law on Biofuels” was organized. The workshop was attended by representatives of the competent institutions and the biofuels producers, and the Ministry of Economy, as the lead policy-making institution in the area and the main counterpart for this activity in the project. The two projects contracted local experts (lead environmental engineer and legal specialist), delivered short presentations and provided information on the types of biofuels present in North Macedonia and worldwide, including the recent trends, the requirements of the latest EU Directive on the promotion of renewable energy sources concerning the biofuels, as well as the support measures for increased production and use of biofuels which are introduced and implemented across the continent. Biofuels producers that participated in the workshop gave information about their production capacities and highlighted the problems they encounter in practice. 
This workshop was organized to exchange information and conduct early consultations with stakeholders in order to improve the understanding of the challenges in the field and to bring closer the European practices and experiences in these areas. The much-anticipated Law on Biofuels is in the preparatory phase and upon the consultative process is expected to enter into Parliamentary procedures in 2021.