Strasbourg, 15/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - In an opinion by Bernardo Hernandez Bataller of Spain (various activities group) on the energy strategy 2011-2020, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for the energy model of the EU to be reconsidered. As well as a more ambitious objective of a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020, which will help to keep the competitiveness of the EU in place, the EESC is calling for a reform of the energy sector, on the basis of appropriate prices and taking account of production costs and the costs to society of pollutant emissions. The EESC also wishes to see subsidies redirected from production and consumption and channelled into R&D, innovation and energy performance technologies, but also into promoting investment in renewables and green technologies, which cannot be competitive on the market by 2020. Efforts also need to be made to modernise networks and infrastructure. Lastly, the EESC stresses the need to raise awareness among consumers of saving energy. (E.H./transl.fl)