Commission approves year-long extension of tax exemptions for Swedish biofuels
The European Commission has approved the prolongation of the tax exemption measure for biofuels in Sweden.
Sweden has exempted liquid biofuels from energy and CO₂ taxation since 2002. The measure has already been extended several times, the last time being in October 2020.
The Commission has now approved an additional one-year extension of the tax exemption from 1 January to 31 December 2022.
The objective of the tax exemption measure is to increase the use of biofuels and to reduce the use of fossil fuels in transport.
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular the Guidelines on State Aid for environmental protection and energy.
The Commission found that the tax exemptions are necessary and appropriate for stimulating the production and consumption of domestic and imported biofuels, without unduly distorting competition.
In addition, the scheme will contribute to the efforts of both Sweden and the EU to deliver on the Paris agreement and move towards the 2030 renewables and CO₂ targets.
The support to food-based biofuels should remain limited, in line with the thresholds imposed by the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
Furthermore, the exemption can only be granted when operators demonstrate compliance with sustainability criteria, which will be transposed by Sweden as required by the revised RED.
On this basis, the Commission concluded that the measure was in line with EU State aid rules.
Sweden has exempted liquid biofuels from energy and CO₂ taxation since 2002. The measure has already been extended several times, the last time being in October 2020.
The Commission has now approved an additional one-year extension of the tax exemption from 1 January to 31 December 2022.
The objective of the tax exemption measure is to increase the use of biofuels and to reduce the use of fossil fuels in transport.
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular the Guidelines on State Aid for environmental protection and energy.
The Commission found that the tax exemptions are necessary and appropriate for stimulating the production and consumption of domestic and imported biofuels, without unduly distorting competition.
In addition, the scheme will contribute to the efforts of both Sweden and the EU to deliver on the Paris agreement and move towards the 2030 renewables and CO₂ targets.
The support to food-based biofuels should remain limited, in line with the thresholds imposed by the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
Furthermore, the exemption can only be granted when operators demonstrate compliance with sustainability criteria, which will be transposed by Sweden as required by the revised RED.
On this basis, the Commission concluded that the measure was in line with EU State aid rules.
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