The energy directorate general of the European Commission has insisted that formal targets to increase the amount of biofuels produced and consumed in the European Union (EU) will be released this week, despite concerns aired by the EU environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.

He told the BBC that the original draft production and consumption target should include guarantees about avoiding possible environmental and economic problems caused by a biofuel boom.

"We have seen that the environmental problems caused by biofuels and also the social problems are bigger than we thought they were.

"We have to have criteria for sustainability, including social and environmental issues,” he said.

The call, was rebuffed by the lead directorate general (DG) for the biofuel brief DG energy, where a spokesman said the Commission would obey an order from the March 2007 EU summit, and propose an “unchanged” target binding member states to run 10% of their transport on biofuels by 2020.