COMMON POSITION (EC) No 9/98 adopted by the Council on 19 January 1998 with a view to adopting a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community (Altener II)
Date: 1998-01-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, energy policy, pollution control measures, renewable energy

26.2.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  62/31

COMMON  POSITION  (EC)  No  9/98

adopted  by  the  Council  on  19  January  1998

with  a  view  to  adopting  a  Council  Decision  concerning  a  multiannual  programme  for  the
promotion  of  renewable  energy  sources  in  the  Community  (Altener  II)

(98/C  62/03)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  130s(1)  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the
Regions (3),

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189c  of  the  Treaty (4),

(1)  Whereas  Article  130r  of  the  Treaty  provides  that
one  of  the  objectives  of  Community  action  is  to
ensure  prudent  and  rational  utilisation  of  natural
resources;

(2)  Whereas  Article  129  of  the  Treaty  provides  that
health  protection  requirements  shall 
form  a
constituent part of the Community’s other policies;
whereas  the  Altener  programme  contributes  to
health  protection;

(3)  Whereas  at  its  meeting  on  29  October  1990  the
Council  announced  its  objective  of  stabilising  total
CO2  emissions  by  the  year  2000  at  the  1990  level
in  the  Community  as  a  whole;

(4)  Whereas  a  mechanism  for  monitoring  CO2  and
other  greenhouse  gas  emissions  in  the  Community
was  established  by  Decision  93/389/EEC (5);

(1)  OJ  C  192,  24.6.1997,  p.  16.
(2)  OJ  C  19,  21.1.1998,  p.  34.
(3)  OJ  C  379,  15.12.1997,  p.  63.
(4)  Opinion  of  the  European  Parliament  of  6  November  1997
(not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common
Position  of  19  January  1998  and  Decision  of  the  European
Parliament  of 
in  the  Official
. . .  (not  yet  published 
Journal).

(5)  OJ  L  167,  9.7.1993,  p.  31.

(5)  Whereas  CO2  emissions  from  energy  consumption
in  the  Community  are  likely  to  increase  by  about
3 %  between  1995  and  2000,  assuming  normal
economic growth; whereas it is, therefore, essential
to  adopt  additional  measures;

(6)  Whereas  at  its  meeting  on  25  and  26  June  1996
the  Council  noted  that  in  the  framework  of  the
negotiations  on  a  protocol  concerning  the  Berlin
Mandate,  the  second  assessment  report  of  the
Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (SAR
IPCC)  had  concluded  that  the  balance  of  evidence
suggested  that  there  was  a  discernible  human
influence  on  global  climate  change  and  had
stressed  the  need  for  urgent  action  at  the  widest
possible  level,  noted  that  significant  ‘no-regrets’
opportunities  were  available  and  requested  the
Commission  to  identify  the  measures  that  had  to
be  taken  at  Community  level;

(7)  Whereas with the Green Paper of 11 January 1995
and  the  White  Paper  of  13  December  1995  the
the  European
Commission  communicated 
Parliament and the Council its views on the future
of energy policy in the Community and on the role
that  renewable  energy  sources  should  play;

to 

(8)  Whereas  in  its  Resolution  of  4  July  1996 (6)  the
European  Parliament  called  on  the  Commission  to
implement  a  Community  action  plan  to  promote
renewable  energy  sources;

(9)  Whereas  with  the  Green  Paper  of  20  November
1996  entitled  ‘Energy  for  the  future:  renewable
sources  of  energy’  the  Commission  started  a
process 
further
the  development 
implementation  of  a  Community  strategy  and  an
action  plan  on  renewable  energy  sources  (RES);

and 

for 

(10)  Whereas 

its  Resolution  of  14  November
1996 (7)  on  the  Commission  White  Paper  entitled

in 

(6)  OJ  C  211,  22.7.1996,  p.  27.
(7)  OJ  C  362,  2.12.1996,  p.  279.

C  62/32

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

26.2.98

‘An  energy  policy  for  the  European  Union’  the
European  Parliament  called  on  the  Commission  to
financial  programme  aimed  at
establish  a 
promoting  sustainable  energy;  whereas, 
its
Resolution of 15 May 1997 (1) on the Green Paper
entitled  ‘Energy  for  the  future:  renewable  sources
of  energy’  it  expressly  requests  the  adoption  as
soon  as  possible  of  a  strengthened  Altener  II
programme;

in 

(11)  Whereas  Article  8  of  Directive  96/92/EC  of  the
European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  19
December  1996  concerning  common  rules  for  the
internal  market  in  electricity (2)  offers  Member
States  the  possibility  of  furthering  the  penetration
of 
from
renewable  sources  of  energy  by  giving  them
priority;

in  electricity  produced 

the  market 

(12)  Whereas  Article  130a  of  the  Treaty  provides  that
its
the  Community  shall  develop  and  pursue 
actions leading to the strengthening of its economic
and  social  cohesion  and  that,  in  particular,  it  shall
aim  at  reducing  disparities  between  the  levels  of
development  of  the  various  regions  and  the
regions;
backwardness  of 
whereas  those  actions  cover,  inter  alia,  the  energy
sector;

least-favoured 

the 

(13)  Whereas  in  Decision  93/500/EEC (3)  the  Council
adopted  a  Community  programme 
entitled
‘Altener’  for  the  promotion  of  renewable  energy
sources  aimed  at  reducing  CO2  emissions  by
increasing  the  market  share  of  renewable  energy
sources  and  its  contribution  to  overall  primary
energy production in the Community; whereas that
programme  ends  on  31  December  1997;

(14)  Whereas  the  Community  has  recognised  that  the
Altener  programme 
important
element  of  the  Community  strategy  for  reducing
CO2  emissions;

represents  an 

framework  programme 

(15)  Whereas  Decision  1110/94/EC  of  the  European
Parliament  and  of  the  Council (4)  established  a
research,
fourth 
technological  development  and  demonstration
projects;  whereas  policy  in  the  field  of  renewable
energy  sources  is  an  important  instrument  for  the
use  and  promotion  of  the  new  energy  technologies
that  the  framework  programme  will  develop;
whereas the Altener II programme is an instrument
which  complements  that  programme;

for 

(1)  OJ  C  167,  2.6.1997,  p.  160.
(2)  OJ  L  27,  30.1.1997,  p.  20.
(3)  OJ  L  235,  18.9.1993,  p.  41.
(4)  OJ L 126, 18.5.1994, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision

No  616/96/EC  (OJ  L  86,  4.4.1996,  p.  69).

(16)  Whereas  the  Altener  II  programme  does  not  alter
national  projects  or  systems  for  the  promotion  of
renewable resources; whereas its objective is to add
a  Community  aspect  that  represents  added-value;

(17)  Whereas, 

the 

fifth 

furthermore, 

framework
programme  of  research,  technological  development
and  demonstration  should  devote  special  attention
to  energy  and  whereas  Altener  II  should  again  be
an 
this
programme;

important  additional 

instrument 

in 

(18)  Whereas 

energy 

renewable 

sources  are  an
important  energy  source  for  the  European  Union
with  considerable  commercial  potential;  whereas
their  development  should  therefore  be  supported
through  a  specific  strategy  and  targeted  actions  to
make  them  both  viable  and  competitive  and  thus
create  a  favourable  environment  for  investment;

(19)  Whereas  the  increased  use  of  renewable  sources  of
energy  will  have  a  positive  effect  both  on  the
the  security  of  energy
environment  and  on 
supplies;  whereas  a  high  degree  of  international
cooperation 
the  best
results;

is  desirable 

to  achieve 

(20)  Whereas  a  strengthened  Altener  II  programme
represents  an  essential  instrument  for  developing
the  potential  of  renewable  energy  sources;

the  peripheral  and 

(21)  Whereas the aim of the targeted actions referred to
in  Article  2(1)(d)  is  to  facilitate  and  accelerate
investment  in  new  operational  capacity  for  the
production  of  energy  from  renewable  sources  by
providing  financial  support,  in  particular  for  small
and  medium-sized  enterprises  (SMEs),  in  order  to
service  costs  of
reduce 
renewable  energy  projects,  and  thus  overcome  the
non-technical  obstacles  present;  whereas  those
actions  promote,  inter  alia,  access  to  specialised
advice, the analysis of market prospects, the choice
of location of projects, application for construction
and  operation  permits,  initiatives  taken  by  SMEs
on  investment  in  renewable  sources  of  energy,  the
establishment  of  financing  plans,  the  preparation
of  calls  for  tenders,  the  training  of  operators  and
plant commissioning;

(22)  Whereas 

those 

targeted  actions  concern 

the
implementation  of  projects  carried  out  in  the  area
of  biomass, 
including  energy  crops,  firewood,
residues  from  forestry  and  agriculture,  municipal
waste  which  cannot  be  recycled,  liquid  biofuels

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and  biogas,  and  in  the  areas  of  thermal  and
photovoltaic solar systems, passive and active solar
systems  in  buildings,  small  scale  (,  10  MW)
hydroelectric  projects,  wave  energy,  wind  power
and  geothermal  energy;

(23)  Whereas  the  development  of  renewable  energy
sources can help create a competitive energy system
for  the  whole  of  Europe  and  develop  a  European
renewable  energy  sources 
industry,  with  vast
opportunities  for  the  export  of  know-how  and  for
investment in third countries involving Community
participation;

(24)  Whereas  in  implementing  the  programme,  there
other
also
renewable  energy

should 
be 
Community 
concerned  with  promoting 
sources;

cooperation  with 

and  programmes 

close 
actions 

(25)  Whereas in order to ensure that Community aid is
used  efficiently  the  Commission  will  ensure  that
projects  are  subject  to  thorough  prior  appraisal;
whereas it will systematically monitor and evaluate
the  progress  and  results  of  supported  projects;

(26)  Whereas  a  financial  reference  amount  within  the
meaning  of  point  2  of  the  Declaration  by  the
the
European  Parliament, 
Commission  of  6  March  1995 (1)  is  included  in
this  Decision  for  the  entire  duration  of  the
programme,  without  thereby  affecting  the  powers
of  the  budgetary  authority  as  they  are  defined  by
the  Treaty;

the  Council  and 

(27)  Whereas it is politically and economically desirable
to open the Altener II programme to the associated
Central and East European countries in accordance
with  the  conclusions  of  the  Copenhagen  European
Council  of  21  and  22  June  1993,  and  as  outlined
in  the  communication  on  that  subject  presented  to
the  Council  by  the  Commission  in  May  1994;
whereas  it  should  also  be  open  to  Cyprus,

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DECISION:

Article  1

1. A multiannual programme of measures and actions to
promote  the  use  of  renewable  energy  sources  in  the
Community,  called  Altener  II,  hereinafter  referred  to  as
‘the  programme’,  is  hereby  established.

(1)  OJ  C  293,  8.11.1995,  p.  4.

The  objectives  of  the  programme  shall  be  to:

(a) help  create 

the  necessary  conditions 

the
implementation  of  a  Community  action  plan  for
renewable  energy  sources,  and  in  particular  the  legal,
socioeconomic  and  administrative  conditions;

for 

(b) encourage  private  and  public  investments  in  the
from  renewable

production  and  use  of  energy 
sources.

following 

Community 

overall 
those  of 

These two specific objectives shall contribute to achieving
objectives,
the 
complementing 
the  Member  States,  and
priorities:  the  limitation  of  CO2  emissions,  increasing  the
share  of  renewable  energy  sources  in  the  energy  balance,
reduction in energy import dependence, security of energy
economic
supply, 
development, economic and social cohesion and local and
regional  development,  including  the  strengthening  of  the
economic  potential  of  remote  and  peripheral  regions.

employment, 

promotion 

of 

2. Community  financial  support  shall  be  granted  within
the  programme  for  actions  meeting  the  objectives  set  out
in  paragraph  1(a)  and  (b).

financial 

3. The 
the
reference 
implementation  of  the  programme  shall  be  ECU  22
million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by
the  budget  authority  within  the  limits  of  the  financial
perspective.

amount 

for 

Article  2

1. The  following  actions  and  measures  relating  to
renewable  energy  sources  shall  be  financed  within  the
programme:

impact  and 

the  environmental 

(a)  studies  and  other  actions,  intended  to  implement  and
complement  other  measures  by  the  Community  and
Member  States  taken  to  develop  the  potential  of
renewable  energy  sources.  These  involve  in  particular
the development of sectoral and market strategies, the
development  of  norms  and  certification,  facilitating
grouped  procurement,  analyses,  based  on  projects,
comparing 
the
long-term cost/benefit trends resulting from the use of
traditional  forms  of  energy  and  the  use  of  renewable
energy 
legal,
the 
conditions,
socioeconomic 
including  analysis  of  the  possible  use  of  economic
measures,  and/or  tax  incentives  which  are  more
favourable  to  the  market  penetration  of  renewable
energies,  the  preparation  of  appropriate  legislation  to
promote  an  environment  favourable  to  investment
and  better  methods  which  make 
it  possible  to
evaluate  the  costs  and  benefits  that  are  not  reflected
in  the  market  price;

analysis  of 
administrative 

sources, 

and 

the 

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26.2.98

(b) pilot  actions  of  interest  to  the  Community  aimed  at
creating  or  extending  structures  and  instruments  for
the  development  of  renewable  energy  sources  in:

financial  contribution  shall  not  exceed  50 %  of  the  total
cost  of  the  measure;  the  balance  may  be  defrayed  by
public  or  private  sources  or  a  combination  of  the  two.

—  local  and  regional  planning,

—  the  tools  for  planning  design  and  evaluation,

—  new  financial  products  and  market  instruments;

(c)  measures  intended  to  develop  information,  education
and  training  structures;  measures  to  encourage  the
exchange  of  experience  and  know-how  aimed  at
improving 
international,
Community,  national,  regional  and  local  activities;
establishment  of  a  centralised  system  for  collecting,
prioritising 
and
circulating 
know-how  on  renewable  energy  sources;

coordination 

information 

between 

and 

(d) targeted  actions  facilitating  the  market  penetration  of
renewable  energy  sources  and  relevant  know-how,  in
order  to  facilitate  the  transition  from  demonstration
to  marketing,  and  encouraging 
investment,  by
advising  on  the  preparation  and  presentation  of
projects  and  their  implementation;

(e)  monitoring  and  evaluation  actions  intended  to:

—  monitor  the  implementation  of  the  Community
strategy  and  action  plan  for  the  development  of
renewable  energy  sources,

—  support  initiatives  taken  in  implementing  the
action plan, particularly with a view to promoting
better  coordination  and  greater  synergy  between
actions, including all Community funded activities
and  those  funded  by  other  bodies  such  as  the
European  Investment  Bank,

—  monitor  the  progress  achieved  by  the  Community
and  comment  on  that  achieved  by  the  Member
States  with  regard 
the  development  of
to 
renewable  energy  sources,

—  evaluate  the  impact  and  cost  effectiveness  of
actions  and  measures  undertaken  under  this
programme.  This  evaluation  shall  also  take  into
account  the  environmental  and  social  aspects,
including  the  effects  on  employment.

Article  3

1. All costs relating to the actions and measures referred
to  in  Article  2(1)(a),  (c)  and  (e)  shall  be  borne  by  the
Community.  Where  a  body  other  than  the  Commission
proposes  a  measure  covered  by  (c),  the  Community’s

2. The  level  of  funding  under  the  programme  for  the
actions  and  measures  referred  to  in  Article  2(1)(b)  shall
not  exceed  50 %  of  their  total  cost;  the  balance  may  be
defrayed by pubic or private sources or a combination of
the  two.

3. The  level  of  funding  under  the  programme  for  the
actions  and  measures  referred  to  in  Article  2(1)(d)  shall
be established annually for each of the targeted actions in
accordance  with  Article  4(2).

Article  4

1. The Commission shall be responsible for the financial
execution and implementation of the programme. It shall
also ensure that actions under the programme are subject
to prior appraisal, monitoring and subsequent evaluation
which,  on  completion  of  the  project,  shall  include
assessment  of  impact,  extent  of  implementation  and
whether  the  original  objectives  have  been  achieved.  The
Commission  shall  ensure  that  the  selected  beneficiaries
submit  reports  to  the  Commission  at 
least  on  a
six-monthly  basis  or,  in  the  case  of  projects  lasting  less
than  one  year,  at  the  halfway  point  and  on  completion.

The  Commission  shall  keep  the  committee  provided  for
in  Article  5  informed  of  the  development  of  projects.

2. The  conditions  and  guidelines  to  be  applied  for  the
support of the actions and measures referred to in Article
2(1)  shall  be  defined  each  year  taking  into  account:

(a)  the  priorities  set  out  by  the  Community  and  the
the

Member  States 
in 
promotion  of  renewable  energy  sources;

their  programmes 

for 

(b) criteria 

to 

relating 

the  cost  effectiveness  and
development  potential  of  renewable  energy  sources
the
and 
environment,  in  particular  the  reduction  of  CO2
emissions;

impact  on 

employment 

their 

and 

(c)  for  the  actions  referred  to  in  Article  2(1)(d),  the
relative  cost  of 
long-term
commercial  viability,  the  new  production  capacity
expected  to  arise  and  the  extent  of  transregional
and/or  transnational  benefits;

the  assistance, 

the 

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(d) the  principles  established  in  Articles  92  of  the  Treaty
and  the  relevant  Community  guidelines  on  State  aid
for  environmental  protection.

The  committee  provided  for  in  Article  5  shall  assist  the
Commission  in  defining  these  conditions  and  guidelines.

Article  5

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a  committee
composed  of  representatives  of  the  Member  States  and
chaired  by  the  representative  of  the  Commission.

The representative of the Commission shall submit to the
committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be  taken.  The
committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  the  draft,  within  a
time  limit  which  the  chairman  may  lay  down  according
to  the  urgency  of  the  matter.  The  opinion  shall  be
delivered  by  the  majority  laid  down  in  Article  148(2)  of
the  Treaty  in  the  case  of  decisions  which  the  Council  is
required  to  adopt  on  a  proposal  from  the  Commission.
The  votes  of  the  representatives  of  the  Member  States
within the committee shall be weighted in the manner set
out  in  that  Article.  The  chairman  shall  not  vote.

The  Commission  shall  adopt  measures  which  shall  apply
immediately.  However,  if  these  measures  are  not  in
accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall
be  communicated  by  the  Commission  to  the  Council
forthwith.  In  that  event:

(a)  the  Commission  may  defer  application  of 

the
measures  which  it  has  decided  for  a  period  of  not
more  than  one  month  from  the  date  of  such
communication;

(b) the  Council,  acting  by  a  qualified  majority,  may  take
a different decision within the time limit referred to in
point  (a).

measures  taken  to  promote  renewable  energy  sources  at
the  level  of  the  Community  and  of  the  Member  States,
with  reference  in  particular  to  the  objectives  set  out  in
Article 1. That report shall be accompanied by proposals
for  any  amendments  to  the  programme  which  may  be
necessary  in  the  light  of  those  results.

2. On  the  expire  of  the  programme,  the  Commission
shall  assess  the  results  obtained  from  the  application  of
this  Decision  on  the  basis  of  a  report  by  independent
experts  and  the  consistency  of  national  and  Community
actions. It shall present a report thereon to the European
Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and  Social
Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions.

Article  7

The  programme  shall  be  open  to  participation  by
associated  Central  and  East  European  countries  (CEECs)
in  accordance  with  the  conditions,  including  financial
provisions,  laid  down  in  the  additional  protocols  to  the
the  Association
Association  Agreements,  or 
Agreements 
in
Community  programmes.  The  programme  shall  also  be
open  to  participation  by  Cyprus  on  the  basis  of
additional  appropriations,  under  the  same  rules  as  those
applied  to  EFTA/EEA  countries,  in  accordance  with
procedures  to  be  agreed  with  that  country.

themselves,  relating 

to  participation 

in 

Article  8

into 

This  Decision  shall  apply  from  1  January  1998  until  the
framework
entry 
programme  for  measures  in  the  energy  sector  and  until
31  December  1999  at  the  latest.

the  multiannual 

force  of 

Article  9

This  Decision  is  addressed  to  the  Member  States.

Article  6

Done  at  . . .,  . . .  .

1. During  the  second  year  of  the  programme,  the
Commission  shall  present  a  report  to  the  European
Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and  Social
Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  on  the

For  the  Council

The  President

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26.2.98

STATEMENT  OF  THE  COUNCIL’S  REASONS

I. 

INTRODUCTION

1.  On  23  May  1997  the  Commission  submitted  to  the  Council  a  proposal  for  a  Council
Decision  concerning  a  multiannual  programme  for  the  promotion  of  renewable  energy
sources  in  the  Community,  Altener  II,  based  on  Article  130s(1)  of  the  EC  Treaty.

2.  The  European  Parliament  delivered  its  opinion  on  6  November  1997.  The  Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions delivered their opinions on 29
October  1997  and  on  18  September  1997  respectively.

The  Commission  submitted  an  amended  proposal  to  the  Council  on  4  December
1997.

3.  At  its  meeting  on  19  January  1998,  the  Council  adopted  its  common  position  in

accordance  with  Article  189c  of  the  Treaty.

II.  AIMS

4.  The  aim  of  the  proposed  Decision  is  to  continue  and  extend  the  Altener  programme.
The  aim  of  the  Altener  II  programme  is  to  make  an  essential  contribution  to  an
increased use of environmentally friendly, renewable energy sources and to form one of
the  main  components  of  the  Community  strategy  to  reduce  CO2  emissions.

III.  ANALYSIS  OF  THE  COMMON  POSITION

5.  The Council reached agreement on the text of the common position, taking account of
the  importance  of  the  continuation  of  this  programme,  of  the  future  adoption  of  the
multiannual framework programme for action in the energy sector for the period 1998
to  2002,  which  should  include  the  Altener  II  programme,  and  of  existing  budgetary
constraints.

In  this  connection,  the  Council  amended  Article  8  by  providing  for  the  programme  to
last two years or up until the entry into force of the framework programme if this took
place  before  1999.  In  Article  1(3)  it  included  a  financial  reference  amount  of  ECU  22
million  calculated  on  the  basis  of  the  budget  allocation  earmarked  for  this  programme
in  1998.  In  Article  5  it  adopted  a  type  II  (a)  committee  with  a  view  to  harmonisation
with  other  actions  having  the  same  objective,  in  particular  the  SAVE  II  programme.

6.  The  other  amendments  to  the  text  involve  the  addition  of  several  recitals:

—  recital  11  is  aimed  at  giving  priority  to  electricity  produced  from  renewable  energy
sources and is taken in substance from the text of the Directive concerning common
rules  for  the  internal  market  in  electricity,

—  recital 16 contains a reference to the added-value which the Community dimension

may  constitute  for  national  systems  in  the  promotion  of  renewable  energy,

—  recital  22  reproduces  former  Article  2(2)  from  the  Commission  proposal,

26.2.98

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C  62/37

—  recital  25  reproduces  a  recital  already  appearing  in  the  Decision  relating  to  the
SAVE  II  programme  and  is  accompanied  by  a  corresponding  adjustment  to
Article  4,

—  recital 26, which is connected to the new text of Article 1(3), involves the inclusion

of  a  financial  reference  amount.

7.  The  Council  adopted in  substance most of the amendments proposed by the European
Parliament and contained in the amended Commission proposal, i.e. amendments 2, 5,
6,  8,  12,  15,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23  and  25.

Amendment 7 was not adopted as it was considered inadvisable to refer in a recital to
economic aspects linked to employment. Amendment 9 was not adopted because it was
considered  inappropriate  to  refer  to  a  quantitative  approach.  Amendment  13  was  not
adopted as the text referred to objectives in the White Paper for a Community strategy
on  renewable  energy,  which  has  not  yet  been  examined  by  the  Council.

8.  The  Council  did  not  adopt  the  seven  amendments  proposed  by  the  European

Parliament  which  were  not  included  in  the  Commission’s  amended  proposal.