L 12342 Official Journal of the European Union 17.5.2003 DIRECTIVE 2003/30/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (!), Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (°), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1) The European Council meeting at Gothenburg on 15 and 16 June 2001 agreed on a Community strategy for sustainable development consisting in a set of measures, which include the development of biofuels. (2)  Natural resources, and their prudent and rational utilisa- tion as referred to in Article 174(1) of the Treaty, include oil, natural gas and solid fuels, which are essen- tial sources of energy but also the leading sources of carbon dioxide emissions. (3)  However, there is a wide range of biomass that could be used to produce biofuels, deriving from agricultural and forestry products, as well as from residues and waste from forestry and the forestry and agrifoodstuffs industry. (4)  The transport sector accounts for more than 30 % of final energy consumption in the Community and is expanding, a trend which is bound to increase, along with carbon dioxide emissions and this expansion will be greater in percentage terms in the candidate countries following their accession to the European Union. (5)  The Commission White Paper ‘European transport policy for 2010: time to decide’ expects CO, emissions from transport to rise by 50 % between 1990 and 2010, to around 1113 million tonnes, the main responsibility resting with road transport, which accounts for 84 % of transport-related CO, emissions. From an ecological () OJ C 103 E, 30.4.2002, p. 205 and O] C 331 E, 31.12.2002, . 291. () O] C 149, 21.6.2002, p. 7. () O] C 278, 14.11.2002, p. 29. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 4 July 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 18 November 2002 (OJ C 32 E, 11.2.2003, p. 1) and decision of the European Parliament of 12 March 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal). ©) (11) point of view, the White Paper therefore calls for depen- dence on oil (currently 98 %) in the transport sector to be reduced by using alternative fuels such as biofuels. Greater use of biofuels for transport forms a part of the package of measures needed to comply with the Kyoto Protocol, and of any policy package to meet further commitments in this respect. Increased use of biofuels for transport, without ruling out other possible alternative fuels, including automotive LPG and CNG, is one of the tools by which the Commu- nity can reduce its dependence on imported energy and influence the fuel market for transport and hence the security of energy supply in the medium and long term. However, this consideration should not detract in any way from the importance of compliance with Commu- nity legislation on fuel quality, vehicle emissions and air quality. As a result of technological advances, most vehicles currently in circulation in the European Union are capable of using a low biofuel blend without any problem. The most recent technological developments make it possible to use higher percentages of biofuel in the blend. Some countries are already using biofuel blends of 10 % and higher. Captive fleets offer the potential of using a higher concentration of biofuels. In some cities captive fleets are already operating on pure biofuels and, in some cases, this has helped to improve air quality in urban areas. Member States could therefore further promote the use of biofuels in public transport modes. Promoting the use of biofuels in transport constitutes a step towards a wider application of biomass which will enable biofuel to be more extensively developed in the future, whilst not excluding other options and, in parti- cular, the hydrogen option. The research policy pursued by the Member States relating to increased use of biofuels should incorporate the hydrogen sector to a significant degree and promote this option, taking into account the relevant Community framework programmes.