ESC opinion on SAVE II
The Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities' opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community (SAVE II) has been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The Committee endorsed the Commission's initiative, but felt that in some areas improvements could be made. In particular, the Committee warned that the distribution of funding between the programme's measures should more strongly reflect the reasons for which these were given priority,. It also stressed that good management of the programme's resources, including the encouragement of funding from the private sector was essential. Another point made by the Committee was that, whilst the programme was open to Central and Eastern European countries, there was a lack of strategic vision on the part of the Community in not inviting cooperation from countries in the Mediterranean area, and in particular, applicant states from that area.