Controversial proposals promoting biofuels within the EU are already running into political difficulties over their environmental impact.

The European Parliament has backed a report saying biofuels should generate only half of the CO2 created by mineral fuels.

And this calculation must take into account their production, distribution and consumption. Only then can such biofuels count towards Brussels’ proposed 10% reduction by 2020 fuel target.

Dutch socialist MEP Dorette Corbey claimed there was significant support for the idea within the EU Council of Ministers.

Meanwhile, European Commission officials have briefed Brussels journalists that complicating its biofuel formula would seriously delay its approval