Biofuel and renewable energy, working towards energy independence and with indisputable benefits for the environment, were given priority ranking for government action and have, so far, been supported through tax incentives.  This was done for two reasons:  to establish sectors with long-term viability offering prospects for farming production, and to provide support for national industrial facilities operating with agriculture and creating both added value and employment.

The draft for France’s 2009 Finance Act has a proposal for cutting the existing tax arrangement and, before long, of doing away with it entirely, suggesting that the Government is prepared to back out of its commitments.  Yet farmers and their economic entities (cooperatives and financial organisations) have carried out their commitments.  New industrial plants requiring massive capital expenditure have been set up, and farmers have signed contracts to supply feedstock, with terms covering a number of years,.
 
This attitude, which runs contrary to political guidance on biofuels as recently argued by public authorities, is both incomprehensible and unacceptable.  And public opinion, i.e. consumers, cannot understand this at a time when, according to a recent survey, 74% of citizens in France believe that the country has not made sufficient efforts to find alternatives to oil, and 76% are in favour of biofuel production using farming feedstock.
 
Is the Government really determined to back out of its commitments?
 
Are promises made considered to be worthless?
 
ORAMA is calling on the President of the French Republic and the Prime Minister to amend the draft Finance Act so that sectors which had received support when public authorities called for large-scale development are not left to flounder.
 
Contact: Pascal HURBAULT – tel.  01 44 31 16 25