Private households across the European Union will be allowed to choose their gas and electricity suppliers as of this Sunday. That is the theory.But Brussels has voiced widespread frustration that former state monopolies are far from relaxing their hold on markets. This stunts competition.Ten EU states opened ahead of the deadline, Britain leading the liberalisation starting in 1990. Today, consumer watchdogs inform and advise Britons in depth. Companies have been free by law to choose their gas and electricity suppliers for the past three years. And yet the European Commission complains that longstanding market domination by a few giants is an obstinate habit to break. Belgium, Britain, Finland, Spain, Sweden and Romania have been the most vocal in urging the European authorities to continue their drive to unbundle ownership of production and supply companies.According to Commission figures, in Germany the monthly power bill for a couple with a child has risen by roughly a quarter sin
Private households across the European Union will be allowed to choose their gas and electricity suppliers as of this Sunday. That is the theory.But Brussels has voiced widespread frustration that former state monopolies are far from relaxing their hold on markets. This stunts competition.Ten EU states opened ahead of the deadline, Britain leading the liberalisation starting in 1990. Today, consumer watchdogs inform and advise Britons in depth. Companies have been free by law to choose their gas and electricity suppliers for the past three years. And yet the European Commission complains that longstanding market domination by a few giants is an obstinate habit to break. Belgium, Britain, Finland, Spain, Sweden and Romania have been the most vocal in urging the European authorities to continue their drive to unbundle ownership of production and supply companies.According to Commission figures, in Germany the monthly power bill for a couple with a child has risen by roughly a quarter sin
They have been talking about bio-fuels in Brussels. Brazil's president Lula da Silva was greeted by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, at an international conference on fuel made from plants. Brazil is already the world's biggest producer of ethanol. The European Commission has called for international development of bio-fuels but stressed that such fuel production must not damage the environment. President Lula da Silva underlined the importance of developing alternative energy sources."20 nations produce energy for around 200 countries," he said. "With the introduction of bio-fuels, more than 100 countries could become energy producers, making access to fuel more democratic."One worry about bio-fuels, is the possible destruction of natural habitat to make room for the bio-mass crops. But the european commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner says it IS possible to produce eco-friendly fuel."If we manage things in the right way for insta
They have been talking about bio-fuels in Brussels. Brazil's president Lula da Silva was greeted by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, at an international conference on fuel made from plants. Brazil is already the world's biggest producer of ethanol. The European Commission has called for international development of bio-fuels but stressed that such fuel production must not damage the environment. President Lula da Silva underlined the importance of developing alternative energy sources."20 nations produce energy for around 200 countries," he said. "With the introduction of bio-fuels, more than 100 countries could become energy producers, making access to fuel more democratic."One worry about bio-fuels, is the possible destruction of natural habitat to make room for the bio-mass crops. But the european commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner says it IS possible to produce eco-friendly fuel."If we manage things in the right way for insta
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas focused his ire on Australia at the start of a meeting of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this week. He called on the world's second-biggest producer of carbon dioxide (CO2) to finally ratify the Kyoto protocol, which aims to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that scientists say are primarily responsible for global warming
