Acting Energy Commissioner Christos Papoutsis this week called for clear guidelines to be drafted

Date: 15/04/1999

on the subsidies paid to renewable energy companies to safeguard fair competition as the industry expands. He emphasised the importance of encouraging competition between businesses, which would help reduce pollution and lead to lower prices. The EU is seeking to double the use of renewable energy to 12&percent; of total energy consumption by 2010.