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Since January 2018, the EU’s revision of the Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) related to palm oil–based biofuels has been widely debated in Indonesian media and frequently framed as an “EU palm oil ban.” However, the June 2018 EU trialogue clarified that RED II does not specifically ban palm oil and that the EU market remains open. Instead, the directive introduces a gradual phase-down of high indirect land-use change (ILUC) risk biofuels from the EU’s renewable energy targets, with a full phase-out by 2030.

Despite this clarification, Indonesian media continued to emphasize the ban narrative and its perceived negative impacts. The Indonesian government and palm oil industry criticized the policy as discriminatory and sought its reversal, while civil society groups argued that the 2030 timeline is too slow and risks prolonging environmental degradation and human rights concerns, underscoring the need for stronger palm oil governance in Indonesia.