European Alliance member Cllr Brian Meaney was appointed rapporteur on the opinion "Sustainability requirements for the use of solid and gaseous biomass sources in electricity, heating and cooling. The European Commission for the moment does not intend to set a binding harmonized scheme for biomass and is keener in giving recommendations for national action instead. However, some Member States consider that binding sustainability criteria are necessary to ensure the environmental sustainability of biomass energy production. The ENVE commission will have an exchange of views on this matter on 22 September.