The European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) congratulates the designate Commissioner for Energy Günther Öttinger for his excellent speech during the hearing of the European Parliament on 14 January 2010. AEBIOM thinks that the designate Commissioner would be the right person to tackle energy related problems and increase the share of renewable energy in Europe. The president of AEBIOM, Heinz Kopetz, congratulates the designate commissioner for energy Mr Öttinger for his excellent presentation during the hearing in the European Parliament. In AEBIOM view, Mr Öttinger made a few important statements on the future role of Renewables in the European energy mix. He mentioned that the existing 20-20-20 targets form a good basis for the work to come and that it is of utmost importance after the conference in Copenhagen that Europe reaches these targets and follows the trajectory defined in the Renewable Energy Directive. Mr Öttinger also made clear that in the next decades these renewable energy targets will have to be increased up to 30% and more whilst further strengthening the security of energy supply. Concerning biomass, he pointed out that biomass development should be balanced from economical and ecological point of view, which is the position also shared by AEBIOM. As bioenergy in the form of heat, electricity and biofuels covers two thirds of all renewable energy, it is obvious that further development of bioenergy is crucial to reach the 20-20-20 targets whilst improving the security of energy supply and avoiding energy poverty –a new problem that worries many members of the European Parliament. AEBIOM aims to collaborate with the new commissioner on many bioenergy related issues in the future such as the elaboration of the nREAP (national Renewable Energy Action Plans), C02 tax, the sustainability of biomass, improved energy efficiency, research agenda and the enlarged funding for investments in bioenergy. Thus, AEBIOM invited the designate Commissioner to participate in the European Bioenergy Conference that will take place on 30 June-1 July in Brussels.