ALTENER II: multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources

The Council common position incorporates 15 of the 17 amendments proposed by the European Parliament at first reading and accepted by the European Commission. The agreement reached by the Council takes account of the importance of continuing the programme with the forthcoming adoption of the multi-annual framework programme in the energy sector for 1998-2002 (see CNS97302) including the ALTENER II programme and existing budgetary constraints. In this context, the Council made provision for the programme to last two years or until the framework programme for the energy sector enters into force (31 December 1999 at the latest). It also included a financial reference amount of ECU 22 million calculated on the basis of the amount allocated to this programme in the 1998 budget. Finally, it requested a type II a) committee in order to harmonise with other actions with the same objective, especially SAVE II. The other amendments to the text concern the addition of several recitals which aim, inter alia, to: - give priority to electricity produced from renewable sources of energy; - include a reference to the added value which the Community dimension may represent for national systems in the promotion of renewable energy. It should be noted that, as the amendments take a quantitative approach, no account is taken of employment-related economic aspects.�