Ref. Ares(2023)1026802 - 13/02/2023
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
 
 
Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean 
  Head of Cabinet 
Brussels, 21.04.2021 
MOVE.DDG2.E1/GLC 
 
 
  
Neste Corporation 
 
@neste.com 
 
  
Eni SpA 
 
@eni.com 
 
  
Repsol S.A 
 
repsol.com 
 
  
Total S.E. 
 
@total.com 
 
 
Dear 
, 
Dear 
, 
Dear 
, 
Dear 
, 
Thank you for your letter where you draw our attention to the question of feedstock 
eligibility in the context of the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative. We are pleased to 
acknowledge your support of the European Green Deal and that the companies you 
represent are taking action in line with the EU’s climate objectives. 
In line with the newly adopted EU climate targets by 2030 and the aspirational objective 
of carbon neutrality by 2050, it is essential that all transport modes reduce their emissions 
in the coming years. This will notably require air transport – a ‘hard to decarbonise’ 
sector, to accelerate its efforts to become more sustainable. For aviation, options for 
emissions reductions are limited, costly and take time to implement.  
The most promising avenue for the air transport sector to reduce its emissions will be to 
reduce its dependence on fossil energy and transition towards sustainable aviation fuels. 
Sustainable aviation fuels are technologically ready to be used on today’s aircraft 
 
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel.
 
@ec.europa.eu 

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engines, achieve significant emissions savings compared to fossil fuels, and if introduced 
gradually, could represent a moderate cost increase for airlines.  
The ReFuelEU Aviation initiative aims to support the uptake of sustainable aviation 
fuels, while ensuring the stability of the aviation internal market. It is essential to 
establish a clear and reliable regulatory framework driving investments towards SAF 
technologies that will deliver high environmental gains. This is why the ReFuelEU 
Aviation initiative is expected to focus on biofuels produced from feedstock listed in 
Annex IX of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and synthetic fuels.  
Article 28(6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 requires the Commission to review regularly 
whether additional raw materials can be added to Annex IX. To prepare the evidence 
base for the review the Commission has launched a study that will assess the suitability 
of a large range of feedstock based on the strict criteria set out in Article 28(6). The work 
on this study is still ongoing and the Commission has not yet taken a decision on 
potential additions. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
(e-signed) 
Walter GOETZ 
 
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